Space-time clustering analyses of occurrence of cerebral palsy in Northern England for births 1991 to 2003.

摘要

PURPOSE: The etiology of congenital cerebral palsy is unclear. Recent studies have suggested that maternal infection is involved. Indirect, but supportive, evidence for an infectious hypothesis would be provided by the finding of space-time clustering. METHODS: We analyzed all 906 cases born during the period 1991-2003 using a population-based registry from Northern England. We applied the K-function method for testing global space-time clustering and used residential addresses at the time of birth. The Knox method was used to determine the spatio-temporal range over which global clustering occurred. Tests were repeated using nearest neighbor thresholds to allow for variable population density. Additionally, Kulldorff's scan statistic identified specific space-time clusters. RESULTS: There was statistically significant evidence of global space-time clustering (p