Association of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study

A bstract Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong, nonprogressive neurological disorder that begins in childhood. In addition to motor impairments, children with CP often experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which can significantly impact their quality of life. Despite this, LUTS remain underdiagnosed, especially in relation to the severity of motor dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the pattern of LUTS in children with CP aged 2–12 years at a tertiary care center and to stratify the symptoms based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) severity levels. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at a tertiary care center in Eastern India from December 2022 to March 2024. Seventy-five children with CP aged 2–12 years were enrolled after informed consent. The presence and type of LUTS were recorded, and their association with the severity of CP was determined. Results: LUTS were present in 55 (73.3%) children, with urgency being the most common symptom (60%). Prevalence of LUTS increased significantly with higher GMFCS levels ( P < 0.01), with higher proportions in GMFCS III (40%) and GMFCS IV/V (38.2%) compared to GMFCS II (21.8%). After Bonferroni correction, only diurnal incontinence was significantly associated with higher GMFCS levels ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A high prevalence of LUTS was observed in children with CP, especially among those with greater motor impairment. These findings emphasize the need for routine screening for LUTS in all patients with CP to enable timely management and improve outcomes.