Study protocol: functioning curves and trajectories for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in Brazil - PartiCipa Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Gross motor development curves for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), grouped by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels, help health care professionals and parents to understand children's motor function prognosis. Although these curves are widely used in Brazil to guide clinical decision-making, they were developed with Canadian children with CP. Little is known about how these patterns evolve in children and adolescents with CP in low-income countries like Brazil. The PARTICIPA BRAZIL aims to: (i) to identify and draw a profile of functioning and disability of Brazilian children and adolescents with CP by classifying them, for descriptive purposes, with all five valid and reliable functional classifications systems (gross motor function, manual ability, communication function, visual and eating and drinking abilities); (ii) to create longitudinal trajectories capturing the mobility capacity of Brazilian children and adolescents with CP for each level of the GMFCS; (iii) to document longitudinal trajectories in the performance of activities and participation of Brazilian children and adolescents with CP across two functional classification systems: GMFCS and MACS (Manual Abilities Classification System); (iv) to document longitudinal trajectories of neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related functions and exercise tolerance functions of Brazilian children and adolescents with CP for each level of the GMFCS; and (v) to explore interrelationships among all ICF framework components and the five functional classification systems in Brazilian children and adolescents with CP. METHODS: We propose a multi-center, longitudinal, prospective cohort study with 750 Brazilian children and adolescents with CP from across the country. Participants will be classified according to five functional classification systems. Contextual factors, activity and participation, and body functions will be evaluated longitudinally and prospectively for four years. Nonlinear mixed-effects models for each of the five GMFCS and MACS levels will be created using test scores over time to create prognosis curves. To explore the interrelationships among ICF components, a multiple linear regression will be performed. DISCUSSION: The findings from this study will describe the level and nature of activities and levels of participation of children and youth with CP in Brazil. This will support evidence-based public policies to improve care to this population from childhood to adulthood, based on their prognosis.

Factors influencing the motor development of prematurely born school-aged children in Brazil.

Despite technological advances in neonatology, premature children are still susceptible to disruptions in neurological development. The current study aimed to analyze the factors that influence motor development in prematurely born school-aged children in Brazil. This cross-sectional study involved 100 "apparently normal" children, aged 8-10 years, born at less than 35 weeks of gestation or with birth weight< 1500 g. Their motor development was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2). The children's neuropsychological and academic performance was assessed with the Token Test (TT) and Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE), respectively. Parents answered questions regarding the child's clinical history and behavior using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and family environment resources (RAF). Hierarchical multivariate analyses revealed that 39% of the children scored lower on the MABC-2, as compared to that expected for their age (manual dexterity: 49%; balance: 35%; throwing/catching a ball: 26%). Multivariate analysis indicated that the lower the birth weight, the maternal age at childbirth, and the RAF score, the greater was the chance of impairment on the MABC-2 scores. The probability of having an impairment MABC-2 scores was four times higher when the mother was not employed. We also found associations between MABC-2 scores and the tasks of tying shoes and opening/closing zippers and buttons. Factors related to children's home environments and birth weight are associated with deficient motor performance in prematurely born Brazilian school-aged children. Deficient motor skills were also associated with difficulty in performing functional tasks requiring greater manual dexterity.

Effect of preterm birth on motor development, behavior, and school performance of school-age children: a systematic review / Efeito do nascimento prematuro no desenvolvimento motor, comportamento e de-sempenho de crianças em idade escolar: revisão sistemática

OBJECTIVES: to examine and synthesize the available knowledge in the literature about the effects of preterm birth on the development of school-age children. SOURCES: This was a systematic review of studies published in the past ten years indexed in MEDLINE/Pubmed, MEDLINE/BVS; LILACS/BVS; IBECS/BVS; Cochrane/BVS, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycNET in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and English). Observational and experimental studies that assessed motor development and/or behavior and/or academic performance and whose target-population consisted of preterm children aged 8 to 10 years were included. Article quality was assessed by the Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scales; articles that did not achieve a score of 80% or more were excluded. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: the electronic search identified 3,153 articles, of which 33 were included based on the eligibility criteria. Only four studies found no effect of prematurity on the outcomes (two articles on behavior, one on motor performance and one on academic performance). Among the outcomes of interest, behavior was the most searched (20 articles, 61%), followed by academic performance (16 articles, 48%) and motor impairment (11 articles, 33%). CONCLUSION: premature infants are more susceptible to motor development, behavior and academic performance impairment when compared to term infants. These types of impairments, whose effects are manifested in the long term, can be prevented through early parental guidance, monitoring by specialized professionals, and interventions. .

OBJETIVOS: examinar e sintetizar o conhecimento da literatura sobre os efeitos do nascimento prematuro no desenvolvimento de crianças em idade escolar. FONTES DE DADOS: revisão sistemática de estudos dos últimos 10 anos indexados nas bases de dados Medline/Pubmed; Medline/BVS; Lilacs/BVS; IBECS/BVS; Cochrane/BVS; Cinahl; Web of Science; Scopus e PsycNET, em três línguas (português, espanhol e inglês). Foram incluídos estudos observacionais e experimentais que avaliaram o desenvolvimento motor e/ou comportamento e/ou desempenho escolar e que tinham como população-alvo crianças prematuras na faixa etária de oito a 10 anos. A qualidade dos artigos foi avaliada pelas escalas STROBE e PEDro e utilizou-se ainda, como critério de exclusão, artigos que não atingissem uma pontuação correspondente a 80% ou mais nos itens das referidas escalas. SíNTESE DE DADOS: a busca eletrônica identificou 3.153 artigos, sendo que 33 foram incluídos a partir dos critérios de elegibilidade. Apenas quatro estudos não encontraram qualquer efeito da prematuridade sobre os desfechos pesquisados (dois artigos sobre o comportamento, um sobre desempenho motor e um sobre desempenho escolar). Dentre os desfechos de interesse, o comportamento foi o mais pesquisado (20 artigos/61%) seguido do desempenho escolar (16/48%) e dos problemas motores (11/33%). CONCLUSÃO: crianças prematuras são mais susceptíveis a prejuízos no desenvolvimento nas áreas motoras, de comportamento e de desempenho escolar em longo prazo quando comparadas a crianças nascidas a termo. Portanto, esses diferentes tipos de agravos, cujos efeitos se manifestam, em longo prazo, podem ser prevenidos precocemente através de orientação dos pais, acompanhamento dos profissionais especializados e intervenção. .

Effect of preterm birth on motor development, behavior, and school performance of school-age children: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: to examine and synthesize the available knowledge in the literature about the effects of preterm birth on the development of school-age children. SOURCES: this was a systematic review of studies published in the past ten years indexed in MEDLINE/Pubmed, MEDLINE/BVS; LILACS/BVS; IBECS/BVS; Cochrane/BVS, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycNET in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and English). Observational and experimental studies that assessed motor development and/or behavior and/or academic performance and whose target-population consisted of preterm children aged 8 to 10 years were included. Article quality was assessed by the Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scales; articles that did not achieve a score of 80% or more were excluded. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: the electronic search identified 3,153 articles, of which 33 were included based on the eligibility criteria. Only four studies found no effect of prematurity on the outcomes (two articles on behavior, one on motor performance and one on academic performance). Among the outcomes of interest, behavior was the most searched (20 articles, 61%), followed by academic performance (16 articles, 48%) and motor impairment (11 articles, 33%). CONCLUSION: premature infants are more susceptible to motor development, behavior and academic performance impairment when compared to term infants. These types of impairments, whose effects are manifested in the long term, can be prevented through early parental guidance, monitoring by specialized professionals, and interventions.