Prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with cerebral palsy: consensus statement.
Noula Gibson, Amanda M Blackmore, Anne B Chang and 7 others
PMID 32803795WHAT IT FOUND
Respiratory disease is a leading cause of death in cerebral palsy, but there is no high-level evidence that any intervention prevents or treats it.
These guidelines rely on expert consensus to recommend risk screening for swallowing, mobility, and reflux.
Key findings
01The systematic review found no high-level evidence from controlled trials that any interventions were effective in preventing or managing respiratory disease in young people with CP.
02Nine risk factors identify young people with CP more likely to have hospital admissions for chest infections, including GMFCS level V, dysphagia, and frequent respiratory symptoms.
03Most recommendations are consensus-based rather than evidence-based, due to a lack of research trials showing how to prevent chest infections in this population.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The recommendations lack a strong evidence base because the systematic review found no high-level evidence from controlled trials. Most recommendations are based on expert consensus (Delphi study) rather than proven efficacy. There is no research evidence for the effectiveness of positioning or airway clearance techniques specifically for respiratory health in CP, despite consensus support. The statement does not address anaesthetic management or disorders caused by spinal/peripheral nerve/muscle disease.
Declared interests
No committee member had a conflict of interest. The work was funded by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these recommendations as evidence that specific treatments prevent respiratory disease. The systematic review found no high-level evidence that any intervention is effective; these are expert consensus guidelines for managing risk in the absence of proven treatments.