Motor-related health care among five-year-old extremely preterm children with movement difficulties: results from a European cohort

Aim

To (1) determine the proportion of 5-year-old children born extremely preterm (EPT) with movement difficulties including cerebral palsy (CP) and the proportion of these children receiving motor-related health care (MRHC), and (2) describe factors associated with receiving MRHC.

Method

Children born before 28 weeks’ gestation in 2011 to 2012 in 11 European countries were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2) at 5 years of age. Information on family characteristics, child health including CP diagnosis, and health care use were collected using parent-report questionnaires. MRHC was defined as visits in the previous year with health care providers (physical and occupational therapists) specialized in assessing/treating motor problems. We analysed receipt of MRHC and associated factors among children at risk of movement difficulties (MABC-2 score 6th–15th centiles), with significant movement difficulties (SMD; ≤5th centile) or with CP.

Results

Of 807 children assessed at 5 years 7 months (SD 4 months; 4 years 7 months–7 years 1 month), 412 were males (51.1%), 170 (21.1%) were at risk of movement difficulties, 201 (24.9%) had SMD, and 92 (11.4%) had CP. Those who received MRHC comprised 89.1% of children with CP, 42.8% with SMD, and 25.9% at risk of movement difficulties. MRHC for children with SMD varied from 23.3% to 66.7% between countries. Children were more likely to receive MRHC if they had other developmental problems or socioemotional, conduct, or attention difficulties.

Interpretation

Efforts are needed to increase MRHC for 5-year-old children born EPT with movement difficulties.