The contribution of familial patterning to the overall prevalence rates of developmental disabilities is unclear. Data was utilized from the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program to investigate the impact of the recurrence of developmental disabilities on the overall prevalence rates of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, and vision impairment. Birth cohort prevalence rates in this study of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment and vision impairment in children aged 3-10 years are reported as 7.7, 2.1, 0.74, 0.69 per 1,000, respectively. The contribution of recurrence to the overall prevalence is 5.8% for mental retardation, 2.0% for cerebral palsy, 3.5% for hearing impairment, and 3.7% for vision impairment. The rate of recurrence was significantly less for those cases whose sibling had multiple disabilities (5%) compared to those cases whose sibling had an isolated developmental disability (11%). Among the cases of isolated developmental disabilities with an affected sibling, 82% had the same developmental disability as their sibling. The contribution of recurrence to the overall prevalence for siblings with the same isolated disability as their sibling is 4.9% for mental retardation, 0.13% for cerebral palsy, 1.8% for hearing impairment, and 0.47% for vision impairment. Child’s sex played a significant role in the recurrence. Among sibships with one recurrence, a significantly greater number of first born affected children were male (66%). Family size was inversely associated with recurrence for mental retardation. This information provides a better understanding of the population-based contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of developmental disabilities.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) Construct the linkage necessary to identify siblings from birth and death certificate data. 2) Analyze data to report the contribution of recurrent developmental disabilities to the overall prevalence rates of developmental disabilties. 3) Identify issues of ascertainment pertinent to population-based surveillance of developmental disabilities with respect to calculating rates of recurrence.
Keywords: Children's Health, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.