Cerebral Palsy Prevalence and Incidence

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Cerebral palsy is the most common type of childhood disability, affecting around 500,000 people under the age of 18. The prevalence of cerebral palsy is the number of people who have the condition in a specific time frame. The incidence refers to the number of newly diagnosed people.

How Prevalent Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy prevalence is a term that defines the total number of people living with cerebral palsy in a specific time frame.

For instance, the number of people living in the United States with the disorder would be the prevalence of cerebral palsy. The current prevalence of cerebral palsy in U.S. children is 1 in 345.[1]

International studies show a prevalence of up to 3.4 per 1,000 births in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of cerebral palsy in high-income countries is as low as 1.5 per 1,000 live births.[2]

What Is Cerebral Palsy Incidence?

On the other hand, cerebral palsy incidence is the number of newly diagnosed people living with the disorder during a specific time frame. For example, the incidence of cerebral palsy should answer how often the condition occurs.

For example, the U.S. National Institute of Health reports that “as many as 8,000 to 12,000 children born in the U.S. each year” develop cerebral palsy.[3]

Incidence can also break down the number of people with cerebral palsy by each particular year. For instance, in November 2009, close to 20,000 people received a cerebral palsy diagnosis.

Why Are Cerebral Palsy Prevalence and Incidence Statistics Important?

Cerebral palsy prevalence and incidence help scientists, physicians, and government organizations analyze and study the disorder from country to country, state to state, and within different communities.

This allows professionals to work towards understanding where more healthcare resources may be needed and which areas need improvement in their current healthcare resources. It also helps government organizations decide where to allocate more funds for cerebral palsy treatment research.

How Prevalence and Incidence Are Calculated

Numerous organizations, including both government and non-government, either carry out or sponsor studies on the incidence or prevalence of cerebral palsy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a government organization that collects data and information for numerous diseases and illnesses, including cerebral palsy.

As a part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC conducts and shares in-depth studies on both the prevalence and incidence of cerebral palsy in the U.S.[4]

Another government organization, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has several different divisions that carry out studies on the incidence and prevalence of cerebral palsy, including:

• Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS)

Non-government agencies that help research and assist in finding treatment options and funding for cerebral palsy include:

• The March of Dimes
• The United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCPA)
• Easter Seals
• The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation

International Agencies also help collect data, including the incidence and prevalence of cerebral palsy, for individuals worldwide. The most prominent organizations include:

• The Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Cerebral Palsy Prevalence and Incidence Facts

According to cerebral palsy incidence and prevalence studies recently conducted, the following are the most current statistics:

• Between 1 and 4 children for every 1,000 babies born develop cerebral palsy.[1]
• About 764,000 people currently live with cerebral palsy, with 500,000 of those being children and teens.
• Each year, 8,000 to 10,000 infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
• 1,200 to 1,500 pre-school-aged children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year.
• Spastic cerebral palsy remains the most common type of the disorder, affecting close to 61% of all people with cerebral palsy.