European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
Volume 23, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 507-516

Cerebral palsy among children of immigrants in Denmark and the role of socioeconomic status (Article) (Open Access)

Petersen T.G.* , Forthun I. , Lange T. , Villadsen S.F. , Nybo Andersen A.-M. , Uldall P. , Strandberg-Larsen K.
  • a Department of Public Health at University of Copenhagen, Oesterfarimagsgade 5, Postboks 2099, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark
  • b Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care at University of Bergen, Postboks 7804, Bergen, N-5020, Norway, Department of Pediatrics at Haukeland University Hospital, Post Office Box 1400, Bergen, N-5021, Norway
  • c Department of Public Health at University of Copenhagen, Oesterfarimagsgade 5, Postboks 2099, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark
  • d Department of Public Health at University of Copenhagen, Oesterfarimagsgade 5, Postboks 2099, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark
  • e Department of Public Health at University of Copenhagen, Oesterfarimagsgade 5, Postboks 2099, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark
  • f Department of Pediatrics at University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
  • g Department of Public Health at University of Copenhagen, Oesterfarimagsgade 5, Postboks 2099, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark

Abstract

Background: Children of immigrants in Denmark have excess risk for some of the most well-established risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP). Objectives: To study differences in risk of CP between children of immigrants and children of Danish-born mothers, and explore whether socioeconomic status drives any potential association. Methods: A register-based cohort study including 1,274,616 children born in Denmark between 1981 and 2007. Of these, 2807 had a validated CP diagnosis in the Danish CP Register. We estimated the risk of CP as odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression and assessed mediation through socioeconomic status using natural effect models. Results: In children of Danish-born mothers, 2.2/1000 had CP overall and the prevalence was similar for children of immigrants. However, children of immigrants had lower risk of unilateral spastic CP than children of Danish native-born mothers; OR = 0.59 (95% CI:0.38–0.91) for Western and OR = 0.79 (95% CI:0.61–1.03) for Non-Western immigrants. By contrast, the risk of bilateral spastic CP was higher in children of Non-Western immigrants (OR = 1.27 (95% CI:1.05–1.53)), especially from Turkey and Pakistan compared with children of Danish native-born mothers. The mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect (through maternal educational level and household income) with an OR of 1.06 (95% CI:0.99–1.14) for children of Non-Western immigrants. Conclusions: While children of immigrants had lower risk of unilateral spastic CP than children of Danish-born mothers, the risk of bilateral spastic CP was increased in children of Non-Western immigrants. Socioeconomic status did not appear to be a significant contributor to the increased risk of bilateral spastic CP. © 2019 The Authors

Author Keywords

Cohort immigrants Ethnic disparities risk factors Cerebral palsy

Index Keywords

education Pakistan immigrant spasticity human risk assessment Cohort Studies Odds Ratio Denmark statistics and numerical data Turkey (republic) priority journal Humans migrant Danish citizen male Emigrants and Immigrants female Cerebral Palsy risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics prevalence Article major clinical study household income adult cohort analysis social class Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061565004&doi=10.1016%2fj.ejpn.2019.01.007&partnerID=40&md5=44ab48cb8180fd2d6c0e50fdbd4c081b
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.01.007
ISSN: 10903798
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English