Survival, Mortality, and Life Expectancy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogenous condition, with level of disability ranging from immaterial to profound. In concert with the continuum of level of severity of disability/ independent functioning, health care needs, therapies, medications, surgical interven- tions, costs of care, daily demands on parents and other family members, and expectations for the future in terms of education, employment, and other milestones of life all vary widely. Similarly, life expectancy in CP follows a continuum, from far lower than to potentially as high as general population life expectancy, that parallels the continuum of levels of disability. Here we review the literature documenting this, and examine the specific factors that are known to be strongly associated with mortality and longevity in CP. We also examine the evidence regarding causes of death in CP, and present some new findings related to this. Finally, we outline important methodological considerations for future research in this area.