Demographics and deprivation in obstetric brachial plexus palsy : a retrospective cohort study

• The present study analyses the relationships between deprivation and obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). A retrospective observational study was conducted of infants with OBPP seen between 2008 and 2020 (n = 321). The index of multiple deprivation (IMD) was used to assign an IMD rank to patients based on birth postcode and the relationship with OBPP was analysed, including deprivation, gestational diabetes, age at referral and at first assessment. Quintile-based analysis demonstrated over-representation of patients from more deprived neighbourhoods (n = 109, 39%) living in the top 20% most deprived neighbourhoods. A total of 48 (15%) mothers had diabetes and 98 (31%) infants underwent surgical brachial plexus exploration (a marker of disease severity). Neither diabetes, age at referral nor age at first assessment were associated with IMD score. This suggests that neighbourhood deprivation is associated with OBPP, though the mechanisms are unclear. Further studies in this area may enable targeted health intervention for more deprived maternal and infant groups.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

brachial plexus

deprivation. socio-demographics

Erb’s palsy

high body mass index

macrosomia

maternal diabetes

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy

Surgery

kirurgi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)