Causes of death in a series of decedents with cerebral palsy in a medicolegal context

Abstract

Retrospective analysis was undertaken of all autopsy reports where cerebral palsy had been documented at Forensic Science SA, South Australia, over an 18 year period from 1998–2015. Forty-eight cases were identified (M:F 29:19; age range 2–78 years; mean 37.8 years). The majority of deaths were due to respiratory complications (N = 17; 35.4%), with pneumonia being responsible for 12 fatalities (25%). Cardiovascular disease was the next leading cause of death (N = 9; 18.8%), with ischaemic heart disease accounting for eight fatalities (16.7%) Other categories of death were epilepsy (N = 8; 16.7%), gastrointestinal complications (N = 5; 10.4%), burns (N = 2; 4.2%), and miscellaneous (N = 7; 14.6%). The highest number of deaths occurred from 31–40 years (N = 11), followed by 21–30 years (N = 10). The number of deaths increased over time, with nine deaths from 1998–2003, 19 from 2004–2009, and 20 from 2010–2015. While cerebral palsy is associated with reduced life expectancy, survival into later adult life is possible.