ArticleFrontiers in pediatrics2026
Beyond motor dysfunction: comorbidities in children with cerebral palsy: a retrospective observational study from a tertiary paediatric hospital in the UAE.
Article in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with comorbidities affecting motor, cognitive, and sensory function, which may be present at various levels in different patients, across regions, or within the same region. The comorbidity burden and the range of comorbidities in children with CP may vary according to disease severity, perinatal factors, and access to healthcare services. Objectives: To evaluate comorbidities, functional limitations, and rehabilitation use in children with CP in a tertiary hospital in the UAE and compare findings with international data. Methods: This retrospective observational study analysed 179 children with CP aged 1 month to 18 years, categorized into spastic quadriplegic, diplegic, hemiplegic, and unspecified subtypes. Data from electronic medical records were used to assess demographic characteristics, aetiologies, comorbidities, and rehabilitation engagement. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests. Results: The cohort included 40.2% spastic quadriplegia, 34.6% spastic diplegia, 13.4% spastic hemiplegia, and 11.8% unspecified cases. Most children (58.1%) were born at term, with perinatal asphyxia (26.3%), hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (14.5%), and neonatal jaundice (14.0%) being the most common aetiologies. Global developmental delay was the most prevalent comorbidity (78.6%), followed by drug-resistant epilepsy (63.7%). Visual impairments (43.6%), gait abnormalities (44.1%), and speech impairments (41.3%) were also common. A higher observed burden of comorbidities was noted in SQ compared with other subtypes, including feeding difficulties (43.1%) and musculoskeletal abnormalities (37.5%). Rehabilitation services were accessed by 64.8% of the cohort, primarily physiotherapy. Comparisons with international studies revealed similar trends in CP subtypes and comorbidities but highlighted disparities in aetiological patterns and access to rehabilitation. Conclusions: Children with CP in the UAE have a high comorbidity burden, particularly in severe subtypes. These findings support the importance of optimizing perinatal care and improving access to rehabilitation services, though prospective studies are needed to establish causal relationships.
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