[Estimation of the prevalence of cerebral palsy in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León (Spain) using a disabilities register]. / Estimación de la prevalencia de parálisis cerebral en la comunidad de Castilla y León mediante el registro de minusvalías.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of cerebral palsy in Western countries is estimated to be around 2 cases/1,000 inhabitants. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cerebral palsy in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León and to assess potential differences among the nine provinces of this region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The number of patients with CP in 1999, separated by provinces and by age groups, was obtained from the Community Sectorial Program for Persons with Disabilities. These data originally came from handicap evaluations carried out in each base center. Prevalences were calculated using population data from the National Institute of Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients aged 0-13 years were registered as having a diagnosis of cerebral palsy in 1999. The prevalence of cerebral palsy was 1.05 cases/1,000 inhabitants aged 0-13 years. Statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of cerebral palsy among provinces (p < 0.0001). The highest prevalence was found in Salamanca, with 1.87 cases/1,000 inhabitants, while the lowest prevalence was found in Segovia, with 0.33 cases/ 1,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cerebral palsy in childhood in Castilla y León was lower than that reported in western countries. Substantial differences were found among provinces. The prevalence of cerebral palsy is probably underreported in some provinces. These differences could be due to a disparity in diagnostic criteria, especially in young children.

Estimación de la prevalencia de parálisis cerebral en la comunidad de Castilla y León mediante el registro de minusvalías / Estimation of the prevalence of cerebral palsy in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León (Spain) using a disabilities register

Introducción La prevalencia de parálisis cerebral en países occidentales se estima en torno a 2 casos/1.000 habitantes. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la prevalencia de parálisis cerebral en Castilla y León, y sus posibles diferencias entre las nueve provincias de la comunidad autónoma. Pacientes y métodos Se obtuvo el número de casos de parálisis cerebral en el año 1999, por provincia, y estratificados por grupos de edad, provenientes del Plan Regional Sectorial de Atención a las Personas con Discapacidad. Estos datos proceden originalmente de las evaluaciones para el reconocimiento de minusvalía realizadas en cada centro base correspondiente. Se calcularon las prevalencias con los datos de población provenientes del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Resultados Existían 335 pacientes de 0 a 14 años registrados con diagnóstico de parálisis cerebral en el año 1999. La prevalencia de parálisis cerebral en ese grupo de edad fue de 1,05 casos/1.000 habitantes. Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la cuantía de las prevalencias entre provincias (p < 0,0001). La que tenía mayor prevalencia fue Salamanca, con 1,87 casos/1.000 habitantes, mientras que Segovia, con 0,33, fue la de menor prevalencia registrada. Conclusiones La prevalencia en edad pediátrica de parálisis cerebral en Castilla y León, muestra una cifra inferior a las referidas en países occidentales. Existen importantes diferencias entre provincias. Es probable que los datos infravaloren la prevalencia de parálisis cerebral, en particular, en ciertas provincias. La disparidad de los criterios diagnósticos puede ser fuente de estas diferencias, sobre todo en edades tempranas

Introduction The prevalence of cerebral palsy in Western countries is estimated to be around 2 cases/1,000 inhabitants. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cerebral palsy in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León and to assess potential differences among the nine provinces of this region. Patients and methods The number of patients with CP in 1999, separated by provinces and by age groups, was obtained from the Community Sectorial Program for Persons with Disabilities. These data originally came from handicap evaluations carried out in each base center. Prevalences were calculated using population data from the National Institute of Statistics. Results A total of 335 patients aged 0-13 years were registered as having a diagnosis of cerebral palsy in 1999. The prevalence of cerebral palsy was 1.05 cases/1,000 inhabitants aged 0-13 years. Statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of cerebral palsy among provinces (p < 0.0001). The highest prevalence was found in Salamanca, with 1.87 cases/1,000 inhabitants, while the lowest prevalence was found in Segovia, with 0.33 cases/ 1,000 inhabitants. Conclusions The prevalence of cerebral palsy in childhood in Castilla y León was lower than that reported in western countries. Substantial differences were found among provinces. The prevalence of cerebral palsy is probably underreported in some provinces. These differences could be due to a disparity in diagnostic criteria, especially in young children