Citation

Seelaender J, Fidler V, Hadders-Algra M. Acta Paediatr. 2013; 102(1): e44-8.

Affiliation

Praxen für Physiotherapie, Lindenstr. 131, D-50226, Frechen, Deutschland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/apa.12057

PMID

23072479

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate changes in prevalence of impaired motor coordination among six-year-olds of a geographically defined area in Germany between the years 1990 and 2007 METHODS: Data from the obligatory school entrance examinations in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia between the years 1990 and 2007 were used. The number of children assessed per year varied from 81,517 to 124,086. The classification of impaired motor coordination was based on the combination of standardized screening and physicians clinical impression of need of treatment. Logistic regression modelling was performed to evaluate the changes in prevalence of impaired motor coordination RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2007 the prevalence of impaired motor coordination rose from 2.5% to 8.9% in boys and from 0.8% to 3.6% in girls. As the standard error of these percentages is below 0.15%, the changes are highly statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of impaired motor coordination tripled during the last decades in North-Rhine Westphalia. This may imply that the prevalence of Developmental Coordination Disorder also increased. Factors which may explain the increasing prevalence include the increase of surviving preterm infants, increasing parental age at child birth, maternal and child obesity, and decreasing child mobility. © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

Language: en