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Aim: To validate a novel equation to estimate weight from mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Bangladesh., Method: Children with CP aged 2 to 18 years registered in the Bangladesh CP Register were randomly selected. Data on sociodemographics, Gross Motor Function Classification System level, and anthropometric measurements were extracted. Bland-Altman plots with a 95% agreement limit and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported to measure agreement between observed and estimated weight. Percentage error was used to determinate the method's accuracy., Results: There were 497 participants with a mean age at assessment of 9 years (SD 4 years 11 months) (47.7% female). Lin's concordance correlation coefficient between the observed and estimated weights was 0.90 (95% CI 0.89-0.92). Bland-Altman plots showed a reasonable accuracy of the equation in the study cohort. The mean percentage error of the equation was 5.04%. The average difference between observed and estimated weights was -1.02 kg (SD 5.1). The differences between observed and estimated weights were significantly greater among children with weight-for-age, height-for-age, or BMI-for-age z-scores less than or equal to -4., Interpretation: It is possible to predict the weight of children with CP from MUAC with sufficient accuracy. The equation can be used for populations in low-resources and low- and middle-income countries., What This Paper Adds: The equations predict the weight of children with cerebral palsy from their mid-upper arm circumference reasonably accurately. The difference between observed and estimated weights ranged between 0 kg and ± 5 kg in 81.5% of children. Sex and Gross Motor Function Classification System level did not affect the accuracy of the equations. The equations were less accurate for estimating the weight of severely undernourished children., (© 2022 Mac Keith Press.)

Background: We aimed to describe the burden, severity, and underlying factors of associated impairments among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Bangladesh. Methods: This study reports findings from the Bangladesh Cerebral Palsy Register—the first population-based surveillance of children with CP in any LMIC, where children with confirmed CP aged < 18 years are registered by a multidisciplinary team following a standard protocol. Associated impairments were documented based on clinical assessment, available medical records, and a detailed clinical history provided by the primary caregivers. Descriptive analysis, as well as unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression, were completed using R. Results: Between January 2015 and February 2022, 3820 children with CP were registered (mean (SD) age at assessment: 7.6 (5.0) y; 39% female). Overall, 81% of children had ≥1 associated impairment; hearing: 18%, speech: 74%, intellectual: 40%, visual: 14%, epilepsy: 33%. The presence of a history of CP acquired post-neonatally and having a gross motor function classification system levels III–V significantly increased the odds of different types of associated impairments in these children. Most of the children had never received any rehabilitation services and were not enrolled in any mainstream or special education system. Conclusions: The burden of associated impairments was high among children with CP, with comparatively low receipt of rehabilitation and educational services in rural Bangladesh. Comprehensive intervention could improve their functional outcome, participation, and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]