Eating and drinking abilities and nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy : A population-based study
Nyman, Anna ; McAllister, Anita and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet LU
(2026)
In Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
68(7).
p.959-966
- Abstract
Aim: To investigate the prevalence of eating and drinking difficulties as classified with the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) in a large population-based cohort of children with cerebral palsy (CP) at all levels of motor function, and how EDACS classifications relate to undernutrition. Method: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the Swedish CP follow-up programme of children aged 19 years and younger. EDACS ratings were compared to z-scores for weight for age and height for age, calculated using standard references. Regression models were used to estimate how height for age was affected by EDACS levels when controlling for gross motor function and CP subtype. Results: We included 2280 children... (More)
Aim: To investigate the prevalence of eating and drinking difficulties as classified with the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) in a large population-based cohort of children with cerebral palsy (CP) at all levels of motor function, and how EDACS classifications relate to undernutrition. Method: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the Swedish CP follow-up programme of children aged 19 years and younger. EDACS ratings were compared to z-scores for weight for age and height for age, calculated using standard references. Regression models were used to estimate how height for age was affected by EDACS levels when controlling for gross motor function and CP subtype. Results: We included 2280 children with CP (945 females, 1335 males), median age 10 years 2 months. Almost a third (30.6%) had safety concerns during mealtimes (EDACS levels III–V). Most children (57.5%) could eat and drink independently, 20.2% required assistance, and 22.4% were totally dependent. One in five had undernutrition (19.9%) and there was an association between EDACS level and nutrition (p < 0.001). Height for age decreased from EDACS level II and also when controlling for gross motor function and CP subtype. Interpretation: Almost one in three children with CP have dysphagia. Growth is affected in children with CP already from EDACS level II.
(Less)
- author
- Nyman, Anna
; McAllister, Anita
and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
- volume
- 68
- issue
- 7
- pages
- 959 - 966
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105024673417
- pmid:41370525
- ISSN
- 0012-1622
- DOI
- 10.1111/dmcn.70113
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.
- id
- a7994a46-3dce-4173-9b4c-3d584270048d
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-02 15:30:32
- date last changed
- 2026-07-08 13:18:40
@article{a7994a46-3dce-4173-9b4c-3d584270048d,
abstract = {{<p>Aim: To investigate the prevalence of eating and drinking difficulties as classified with the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) in a large population-based cohort of children with cerebral palsy (CP) at all levels of motor function, and how EDACS classifications relate to undernutrition. Method: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the Swedish CP follow-up programme of children aged 19 years and younger. EDACS ratings were compared to z-scores for weight for age and height for age, calculated using standard references. Regression models were used to estimate how height for age was affected by EDACS levels when controlling for gross motor function and CP subtype. Results: We included 2280 children with CP (945 females, 1335 males), median age 10 years 2 months. Almost a third (30.6%) had safety concerns during mealtimes (EDACS levels III–V). Most children (57.5%) could eat and drink independently, 20.2% required assistance, and 22.4% were totally dependent. One in five had undernutrition (19.9%) and there was an association between EDACS level and nutrition (p < 0.001). Height for age decreased from EDACS level II and also when controlling for gross motor function and CP subtype. Interpretation: Almost one in three children with CP have dysphagia. Growth is affected in children with CP already from EDACS level II.</p>}},
author = {{Nyman, Anna and McAllister, Anita and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet}},
issn = {{0012-1622}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{7}},
pages = {{959--966}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology}},
title = {{Eating and drinking abilities and nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy : A population-based study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.70113}},
doi = {{10.1111/dmcn.70113}},
volume = {{68}},
year = {{2026}},
}