Prevalence of Cerebral Palsy Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years in 5 US Communities in 2022

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of lifelong motor disability. Our analysis provides CP prevalence among children aged 4 years and 8 years in 5 communities in 2022. METHODS The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network reviewed health care and education records in 5 US communities in 2022. Children with a CP diagnosis born in 2014 or 2018 were identified. Diagnosis age, CP subtype, functional motor skills, and co-occurring conditions were collected. Prevalence was calculated using 2022 postcensal population estimates. RESULTS Among children aged 8 years, CP prevalence per 1000 ranged from 1.3 (95% CI: 0.9–2.0) in Minnesota to 3.1 (95% CI 2.4–4.0) in Missouri and was 2.4 (95% CI 2.2–2.7) across all 5 sites. Compared with white children, Black children had higher prevalence (2.2 vs 3.3; prevalence ratio (PR): 1.5; 95% CI 1.1–1.9) and were less likely to walk independently (P = 0.042). Spastic CP was the most common subtype (72.1%). Of children with CP, 58.4% walked independently. Children who walked independently were less likely than those who could not to be diagnosed by 24 months (P = 0.046). Among children aged 4 years, CP prevalence was 2.2 per 1000 (95% CI 1.9–2.5), and boys had higher prevalence than girls (PR: 1.2; 95% CI 1.0–1.6). Children born in 2018 had 1.2 (95% CI 1.0–1.4) times higher cumulative incidence of diagnosis by 48 months than those born in 2014. CONCLUSIONS Higher CP prevalence and functional impairments were observed for Black children compared with white children. Earlier CP identification among children aged 4 years could reflect recent improvements in early identification.