Wilma M.A. van der Slot, Marij E. Roebroeck, Channah Nieuwenhuijsen, Michael P. Bergen, Henk J. Stam, Alex Burdorf, Rita J. G. van den Berg-Emons
Rijndam Rehabilitation Centre Westersingel 300, 3015 LJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1185

Objective: To explore: (i) cardiovascular disease risk factors and the 10-year clustered risk of a fatal cardiovascular event in adults with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy; and (ii) relationships between the 10-year risk and body fat, aerobic fitness and physical activity.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Subjects: Forty-three adults with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy without severe cognitive impairment (mean age 36. 6 years (standard deviation 6); 27 men).
Methods: Biological and lifestyle-related risk factors and the 10-year risk according to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) were assessed. Relationships were studied using multivariable linear regression analysis.
Results: The following single risk factors were present: hypertension (n = 12), elevated total cholesterol (n = 3), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n = 5; all men), high-risk waist circumference (n = 11), obesity (body mass index; n = 5; all men), reduced aerobic fitness (on average 80% of reference values), reduced level of everyday physical activity (on average 78% of reference values) and smoking (n=9). All participants had a 10-year risk <1%. Corrected for gender, participants with higher waist circumference (β = 0. 28; p = 0. 06) or body mass index (β=0. 25; p = 0. 08) tended to have a higher 10-year risk.
Conclusion: In this relatively young adult sample of people with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy several single cardiovascular disease risk factors were present. The 10-year fatal cardiovascular disease risk was low, and higher body fat tended to be related to higher 10-year risk.