Comparing Cerebral Palsy Surveillance Definition to ICD Codes and Written Diagnoses

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in children. CP registries often rely on administrative data such as CP diagnoses or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes indicative of CP. However, little is known about the validity of these indicators. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CP ICD-9 codes and CP diagnoses compared to a gold standard CP classification based on detailed medical and education record review.

Objective: To compare prevalence estimates obtained by the ADDM cerebral palsy surveillance method to other administrative or diagnostic indications of cerebral palsy.