300 Section - Results towards rehabilitation for children with physical and intellectual disabilities, 1970-2023

Analyze rehabilitation outcomes for children with disabilities between 1976 and 2023.

Design:

Oservational cohort study based on medical records from patients aged 0 to 18 years,  with physical (PD), intellectual disabilities (ID) or Multiple disability (MD), when coexisting  intellectual, physical, visual and hearing impairments, who received outpatient rehabilitation between 1976 and 2023. Data were extracted following informed consent form by the patient and patient`s relatives or legal guardian: day of birth; gender;  Rehabilitation Onset Age (ROA);  Length of Stay in Rehabilitation (LSR) and rehabilitation outcomes.

Results:

Childhood disabilities decreased over time, with boys showing a greater predisposition to all types. The primary cause was congenital, often related to events during the perinatal or neonatal developmental phase. Cerebral palsy with tetraplegia was the most common PD, while Down syndrome was the most prevalent ID. Both ROA and LRS decreased over time. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the age at which rehabilitation began also decreased, reflecting an overall improvement in our healthcare system. 

Conclusion:

Cerebral palsy and undetermined cause were the main causes of disability. Early rehabilitation was also inversely proportional to Length of Rehabilitation Stay. Providing access and early referral to rehabilitation is key to achieving the goals of stakeholders regardless of disability (physical or intellectual).