What is it about?
Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) are at increased risk for frailty and chronic disease due to factors experienced throughout the lifespan, such as excessive sedentary behaviors and malnutrition. However, little is known about how chronic disease affects young adults (18-39 years old) with CP. The purpose of our study was therefore to examine the prevalence and predictors of common age-related chronic diseases in young adults with CP. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that young adults with CP have substantially higher risk for cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal diseases as compared to young adults without CP.
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Why is it important?
Our findings that young adults with CP experience an increased risk in various age-related chronic diseases reiterates the importance of early clinical screening in this population. Moreover, interventions to improve and support physical activity, diet, and sleep are needed to prevent chronic diseases early in life.
Perspectives
As a “pediatric-onset” condition, individuals with CP experience disparities in healthcare as they transition from pediatric to adult clinical care. Therefore, we hope that this article will help to shed light on the need for preventive medicine and healthcare previsions for individuals with CP through the lifespan.
Mark Peterson
University of Michigan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Noncommunicable disease and multimorbidity in young adults with cerebral palsy, Clinical Epidemiology, May 2018, Dove Medical Press,
DOI: 10.2147/clep.s159405.
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