Preterm Birth as a Risk Factor for Cerebral Palsy in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood, often resulting from early brain injury. Preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation) is a critical risk factor for CP due to the vulnerability of the immature brain. Despite advances in neonatal care, the risk of CP remains elevated among preterm infants, especially those born very preterm. Existing meta-analyses are limited by outdated data or methodological gaps.

Objective

To provide an updated, comprehensive synthesis of the association between preterm birth and CP risk in children, utilizing recent high-quality observational studies worldwide.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Goog

SUBMITTER: Tegegne KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12767667 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature