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Pain trajectories in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A longitudinal population-based register study

Sin, May Phyu LU orcid ; Jarl, Johan LU orcid ; Roth, David L. and Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann LU (2026) In Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Abstract
To examine longitudinal trajectories of pain occurrence in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 1 year to 17 years.
A longitudinal register-based study was conducted using data from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program (2007-2023). Individuals (n = 4887) with confirmed CP, a minimum of three pain assessments, and any Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were included (median age at baseline = 3 years 5 months; interquartile range = 4 years 2 months; males = 2864 [58.6%]; Communication Function Classification System levels I-III = 3158 [64.62%]). Pain reports indicated general pain in the past 4 weeks. Group-based trajectory modelling was applied.
Four pain occurrence trajectories were identified: (1)... (More)
To examine longitudinal trajectories of pain occurrence in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 1 year to 17 years.
A longitudinal register-based study was conducted using data from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program (2007-2023). Individuals (n = 4887) with confirmed CP, a minimum of three pain assessments, and any Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were included (median age at baseline = 3 years 5 months; interquartile range = 4 years 2 months; males = 2864 [58.6%]; Communication Function Classification System levels I-III = 3158 [64.62%]). Pain reports indicated general pain in the past 4 weeks. Group-based trajectory modelling was applied.
Four pain occurrence trajectories were identified: (1) increasing trend, low occurrence (probability of experiencing pain below 0.5 across all ages; 20.28%); (2) increasing trend, high occurrence (30.30%); (3) decreasing trend (26.85%); and (4) consistently high occurrence (22.57%). Compared to trajectory 1, individuals classified in GMFCS levels IV and V at baseline were more likely in trajectory 3 (log odd estimate = 0.56; standard error [SE] = 0.16) and 4 (estimated = 0.57; SE = 0.15), while females were more likely in trajectory 2 (estimated = 0.40; SE = 0.13) and 4 (estimated = 0.43; SE = 0.12).
Half of the children experienced high pain occurrence trajectories, while the rest showed low pain occurrence or improvement over time. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:42141804
  • scopus:105038811721
ISSN
0012-1622
DOI
10.1111/dmcn.70309
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0930e478-1eba-4db6-a1b4-f022e9588ca7
date added to LUP
2026-05-18 10:47:06
date last changed
2026-05-30 04:00:44
@article{0930e478-1eba-4db6-a1b4-f022e9588ca7,
  abstract     = {{To examine longitudinal trajectories of pain occurrence in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 1 year to 17 years.<br/>A longitudinal register-based study was conducted using data from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program (2007-2023). Individuals (n = 4887) with confirmed CP, a minimum of three pain assessments, and any Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were included (median age at baseline = 3 years 5 months; interquartile range = 4 years 2 months; males = 2864 [58.6%]; Communication Function Classification System levels  I-III = 3158 [64.62%]). Pain reports indicated general pain in the past 4 weeks. Group-based trajectory modelling was applied.<br/>Four pain occurrence trajectories were identified: (1) increasing trend, low occurrence (probability of experiencing pain below 0.5 across all ages; 20.28%); (2) increasing trend, high occurrence (30.30%); (3) decreasing trend (26.85%); and (4) consistently high occurrence (22.57%). Compared to trajectory 1, individuals classified in GMFCS levels IV and V at baseline were more likely in trajectory 3 (log odd estimate = 0.56; standard error [SE] = 0.16) and 4 (estimated = 0.57; SE = 0.15), while females were more likely in trajectory 2 (estimated = 0.40; SE = 0.13) and 4 (estimated = 0.43; SE = 0.12).<br/>Half of the children experienced high pain occurrence trajectories, while the rest showed low pain occurrence or improvement over time.}},
  author       = {{Sin, May Phyu and Jarl, Johan and Roth, David L. and Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann}},
  issn         = {{0012-1622}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology}},
  title        = {{Pain trajectories in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A longitudinal population-based register study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.70309}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/dmcn.70309}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}