Shengyi Yang, Jiayue Xia, Jing Gao, Lina Wang
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2841

Objectives: To investigate the pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy in China, analyse the differences between different subgroups, and explore the trend over the 32-year period from 1988 to 2020.
Methods: All potential studies related to the prevalence of cerebral palsy among children and adolescents in China were identified from 3 English-language databases and 4 Chinese-language databases. Pooled prevalence was calculated to estimate the prevalence of cerebral palsy among 0-18 years old and different geographical regions in China, using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Continuous fractional polynomial regression modelling was used to estimate the trend in prevalence of cerebral palsy over time. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted to investigate heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to explore potential publication bias.
Results: The pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy over the study period among 0–18 years old and different geographical regions in China was 2. 07‰ (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1. 66–2. 47‰), and the prevalence of cerebral palsy was higher in males compared with females (2. 25‰ vs 1. 59‰), and in rural residents compared with urban residents (2. 75‰ vs 1. 90‰), respectively. The prevalence of cerebral palsy varied significantly between different geographical regions. In subjects with birthweights < 2. 5 and > 4 kg, the prevalence of cerebral palsy was significantly higher than in subjects with birthweights between 2. 5 and 4 kg. The trend in pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy increased continuously over the period studied, and could be divided into 3 stages; the mean annual increase in prevalence from 1988 to 1996 and from 2008 to 2019 was more rapid. Multivariate meta-regression found that the year of study was one of the sources of heterogeneity among overall prevalence. (p-value = 0. 006).
Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy over the 32-year period from 1988 to 2020 was 2. 07‰. There was an increasing trend in prevalence of cerebral palsy among children and adolescents in China over this period.

There are few reports regarding trends in childhood cerebral palsy in China over the past 30 years. This study searched and statistically analysed all potentially relevant studies regarding cerebral palsy. The trend in childhood cerebral palsy in China increased continuously over the period studied, and could be subdivided into 3 stages. From 1988 to 1996, and from 2008 to 2019, the mean annual increase in prevalence was more rapid than for the other years studied. Counter-measures, such as health monitoring and management of infants and young children, are recommended to reduce the prevalence of childhood cerebral palsy in China.

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