Preterm Birth as a Risk Factor for Cerebral Palsy in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood, often resulting from early brain injury. Preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation) is a critical risk factor for CP due to the vulnerability of the immature brain. Despite advances in neonatal care, the risk of CP remains elevated among preterm infants, especially those born very preterm. Existing meta‐analyses are limited by outdated data or methodological gaps. Objective To provide an updated, comprehensive synthesis of the association between preterm birth and CP risk in children, utilizing recent high‐quality observational studies worldwide. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to May 1, 2024, for observational studies reporting odds ratios (ORs) relating preterm birth and CP in children (< 18 years). Studies were screened independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed via the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), including only studies with scores ≥ 6. A fixed‐effects meta‐analysis was performed given low heterogeneity ( I 2 = 28.04%). Publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test. Results Sixteen studies encompassing diverse geographic regions and 30,000+ participants were included. The pooled OR for CP in preterm versus term children was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.72–1.31, p < 0.0001), indicating a significantly increased risk associated with preterm birth. No evidence of publication bias was detected (Egger’s p = 0.4783). The methodological rigor and consistency of findings across varied populations strengthen the evidence for a global association. Conclusions While the pooled estimate for the broad preterm birth category was not statistically significant, subgroup analyses confirm that the risk of CP increases significantly with the degree of prematurity. These findings reinforce the need for targeted neurodevelopmental monitoring and early interventions in preterm populations, particularly for those born at lower gestational ages, alongside public health strategies to reduce preterm birth incidence. Future research should stratify risks by degree of prematurity and explore biological modifiers to optimize preventive care.