Epidemiology of cerebral palsy in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Incidence and risk factors

Maiya Zhakupova; Ardak Nurbakyt; Dinara Ospanova; Ardak Chuyenbekova; Zhanat Kozhekenova; Gauhar Dauletova; Akmaral Aitmanbetova; Maksat Abdikadir; Zhilvinas Padaiga; Marina Izmailovich; Natalya Glushkova; Yuliya Semenova

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14849

Epidemiology of cerebral palsy in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Incidence and risk factors

Heliyon. 2023 Mar 24;9(4):e14849. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14849. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
² Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Medicine, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
³ Department of Nutrition, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
⁵ Department of Population Health and Social Sciences, Kazakhstan Medical University School of Public Health, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
⁶ Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas, Lithuania.
⁷ Department of Internal Diseases, Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
⁸ Nazarbayev University School of Medicine Astana, Kazakhstan.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of robust data on the incidence and causes of cerebral palsy (CP) in Central Asian countries, while this information is important for planning local healthcare services. This epidemiological study was designed to clear the gap in knowledge on both the incidence of CP and the underlying risk factors in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Methods: This was a retrospective study that comprised two stages. At the first stage, a cross-sectional analysis of CP frequencies was performed on the basis of official statistics obtained from the Republican Center for Health Development. A study with age- and sex-matched controls was carried out at the second stage to elucidate the maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with CP.

Results: Mild variability in national CP incidence was observed, ranging from 68.7 to 83.3 per 100,000 population. A number of maternal risk factors were significantly associated with CP, including arterial hypertension, thrombocytopenia, diabetes mellitus, pathology of fetal membranes, premature rupture of membranes, and acute respiratory illness during pregnancy. Low Apgar score, gestational age, birth weight, and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia were among the important neonatal risk factors.

Conclusion: There is a need for a more comprehensive prospective study to document the extent of the CP problem in Kazakhstan. In addition, a national CP registry must be envisaged to overcome the lack of essential data.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Children; Incidence; Kazakhstan; Risk factors.