Trends of 20-year regional population-based study on Perinatal death and brain damage in Southern Japan

Short Communication - Current Pediatric Research (2020) Volume 0, Issue 0

Cerebral palsy (CP) prevalence has not decreased in developed countries over 30 years. Improved survival rates for extremely preterm

infants who are at particular risk of neurological damages may be attributed. The aim of our study was to assess overall gestational

age-specific trends in the rate of CP in our population, where the perinatal mortality rate is low. This regional population-based

study assessed its trends over a 20-year period in southern Japan. We performed an unselected population-based study in Miyazaki

(almost 10,000 deliveries per year), where 203,081 cases were born between 2001 and 2017. We hold peerreview audit conferences

and examined 536 stillbirths (at >22 weeks), 254 neonatal deaths, and 413 infants having a risk of CP. The overall prevalence of CP

was 2.03/1000, and the perinatal mortality rate was 3.89 (per 1,000). Infants were classified into 4 groups according to gestational

age; term (>37 weeks), late-preterm (34-36 weeks), moderately preterm (28- 33 weeks), and extremely preterm (22-27 weeks).

Prevalence of infant survival and brain damage in each gestational age group are examined. The major associated risk factors for

poor outcomes were congenital anomalies, prematurity, and hypoxia. By 15-year interim report, term CP infants were decreased

mainly due to the reduction of asphyxia.

Author(s): Yuki Kodama