Childhood Health and Educational outcomes afteR perinatal Brain injury (CHERuB): a population cohort study protocol

Philippa Rees, Chris P. Gale, Cheryl Battersby, Carrie Williams, Mitana Purkayastha, Ania Zylbersztein, Ben Carter, Alastair Sutcliffe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction
Over 3,000 infants suffer a brain injury around the time of birth every year in England. Although these injuries can have important implications for children and their families, our understanding of how these injuries affect children’s lives is limited.


Methods and analysis
The aim of the CHERuB study (Childhood Health and Educational outcomes afteR perinatal Brain injury) is to investigate childhood health and educational outcomes after perinatal brain injury through the creation of a population matched cohort study. This study will use the Department of Health and Social Care definition of perinatal brain injury which includes infants with intracranial haemorrhage, preterm white matter injury, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, perinatal stroke, central nervous system infections, seizures and kernicterus. All children born with a perinatal brain injury in England between 2008-2019 will be included (n=54,176) and two matched comparator groups of infants without brain injury will be created: a preterm control group identified from the National Neonatal Research Dataset and a term/late preterm control identified using birth records. The national health, education and social care records of these infants will be linked to ascertain their longitudinal childhood outcomes between 2008-2021. This cohort will include approximately 170,000 children. The associations between perinatal brain injuries and survival without neurosensory impairment, chronic health conditions and mental health conditions throughout childhood will be examined using regression methods and time-to event analyses.

Ethics, impact and dissemination
This study has REC and CAG approval (20/LO/1023 and 22/CAG/0068 issued 20/10/2022). This study will provide prognostic information for families and for use by healthcare professionals to help prepare families for the future. An understanding of how and when children are affected by perinatal brain injury will inform national follow-up guidance, resource-planning, and policies around service provision for these children to ensure their needs are met. Findings will be published in open-access journals and publicised via the CHERuB study website, social media accounts and our charity partners.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBMJ Open
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jul 2024

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