Relationship among four functional classification systems and parent interpredicted intelligence level in children with different clinical types of cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

Objective

To investigate the relationships between four functional classification systems in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and parent-interpredicted intelligence level, and the functional status in clinical types of CP.

Methods

Two hundred and twenty-five children with CP ages between 2 and 18 (mean age 6.5 ± 4.4) years included using the Surveillance of CP in Europe (SCPE) database in Turkey. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) and Eating and Drinking Classification System (EDACS) levels were classified by clinical observation, and intelligence quotient (IQ) was determined by parent reports.

Results

Correlations were found between all functional levels; the strongest were between GMFCS-MACS (r = 0.784, p < .001), CFCS-EDACS (r = 0.772, p < .001). Strong correlations were found for the IQ-CFCS (r = 0.762, p < .001) and IQ-EDACS (r = 0.634, p < .001). Correlations were stronger in children with bilateral CP and IQ level <70.

Conclusions

Taken together, these four classification systems and reported IQ levels can adequately describe overall functioning for children with CP. Our results can guide clinicians in the rehabilitation of children with CP.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• function
• intelligence
• classification systems

Acknowledgments

This study is the continuation of the study named “Correlations among the functional classifications in children with Cerebral Palsy: A Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) database study” which was presented as a poster at the 13th EPNS Congress held in Athens, Greece between 17 and 21 September 2019. We would like to thank Catherine Arnaud, Chair of the SCPE, for providing us with the SCPE registration system. We would like to thank all the children and their parents for participating in the study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.