Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSPIC) in the early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) utilizing data from the National Health Insurance Database of South Korea.
Methods
We enrolled children born between 2011 and 2018 who completed the first to fourth stages of the NHSPIC. A positive finding was defined as a recommendation for further evaluation during one or more stages. Participants were categorized into the positive and negative finding groups. Following 1:1 propensity score matching, 82,138 participants were assigned to each group.
Results
Comparative analysis revealed that participants with positive findings exhibited a higher risk of developing all seven NDDs, particularly for autism spectrum disorder (hazard ratio [HR], 19.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.48–22.20), intellectual disability (HR, 17.11; 95% CI, 14.69–19.93), developmental language disorder (HR, 11.74; 95% CI, 10.73– 12.84), and cerebral palsy (HR, 11.34; 95% CI, 8.67–14.84). The HR for learning disability was 4.31 (95% CI, 2.94–6.34), whereas attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder had an HR of 3.57 (95% CI, 3.37–3.78). Tic disorder had the lowest HR (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.48–1.82). Additionally, HRs were calculated for each NHSPIC stage, demonstrating the utility of specific stages in the early detection of each NDD.
Conclusion
Developmental screening tests in the NHSPIC contributed to the early diagnosis of NDDs. This study underscores the significance of the NHSPIC and provides foundational evidence to inform and enhance policies related to child health screenings.

Objective
To investigate the disability registration state of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea.
Methods
Based on the National Health Information Database, the disability registration state was examined for brain lesion disability and other possible complicated disabilities accompanying brain disorder in children diagnosed with CP aged up to 5 years old who were born between 2002 and 2008.
Results
Of children diagnosed with CP, 73.1% were registered as having brain lesion disability for the first time before they turned 2 years old. The younger the children, the more likely they will have 1st and 2nd degree disability. However, when the age of children is increased, such likelihood is decreased. The percentage of children registered as having overlapping disabilities was 7%–20%.
Conclusion
It is important to establish a more accurate standard to rate disability and provide national support systems for children with CP with various severities and multiple disabilities. By reorganizing the current disability registration system for pediatric brain lesions, the system could serve as a classification standard to provide medical and social welfare services.

Citations

• The Effects of an Online–Offline Hybrid Exercise Program on the Lives of Children with Cerebral Palsy Using Wheelchairs during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea
  Youngshin Lim, Areum Han, Mingoo Lee, May Kim
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(12): 7203.     CrossRef
• Radiotherapy can increase the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in head and neck cancer patients: A Korean population-based cohort study
  Jin Yong Lee, Young Ae Kim, Ho Seob Kim, Joung Hwan Back, Young Ho Jung, Duk-Hyoung Lee, Suzy Kim
  Radiotherapy and Oncology.2020; 142: 85.     CrossRef

Objective
To investigate rehabilitation treatment cost of patients with cerebral palsy (CP) according to age.
Methods
We analyzed the cost of rehabilitation treatment from 2007 to 2013 for patients diagnosed with CP by sourcing data from the National Health Information Database.
Results
While the number of recently born children requiring rehabilitation treatment has decreased, the number of patients requiring this treatment in other age groups has gradually increased. In addition, annual physical therapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, and botulinum toxin injection treatment costs per person have increased. On the other hand, the number of orthopedic surgeries and selective dorsal rhizotomy performed has decreased.
Conclusion
This study investigated trends in the cost of treatment for patients with CP. This study can be used as a basis to provide treatment support for patients with CP.

Citations

• Impact of Designated Recovery Rehabilitation Institutions on the Readmission Rate of Older Adults
  Kwang Bae Lee, Tae Hyun Kim, Sung-In Jang, Yun Seo Jang, Eun-Cheol Park
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(3): 1009.     CrossRef
• Direct healthcare costs for people with cerebral palsy in the Brazilian unified health system between 2015 and 2019
  Emilie Batista Freire, Henry Maia Peixoto, Kênnea Martins Almeida Ayupe, Everton Nunes da Silva, Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro, Aline Martins de Toledo
  Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.2025; 25(1): 81.     CrossRef
• The role of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in rehabilitation of cerebral palsy: a systematic review
  Fateme Tahmasbi, Sarvin Sanaie, Hanieh Salehi-Pourmehr, Salar Ghaderi, Alireza Rahimi-Mamaghani
  Developmental Neurorehabilitation.2025; 28(1): 52.     CrossRef
• Continuity of Care Is Associated with Medical Costs and Inpatient Days in Children with Cerebral Palsy
  Kuang-Tsu Yang, Chun-Hao Yin, Yao-Min Hung, Shih-Ju Huang, Ching-Chih Lee, Tsu-Jen Kuo
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(8): 2913.     CrossRef