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. 2021 Jun 19;37(11):3385–3396. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05226-4

Table 6.

Univariate (U) or multivariate (M) regression results for clinical outcomes by hydrocephalus aetiology

Outcome Odds ratio (95% confidence intervals)/median (range)
PHH NTDs Genetic Congenital Other p value
CP (M)

n = 85

1 (reference)

n = 34

0.022 (0.002–0.206)*

n = 26

0.310 (0.083–1.158)

n = 38

0.221 (0.059–0.820) *

n = 54

0.338 (0.101–1.128)

0.01
Epilepsy (M)

n = 94

1 (reference)

n = 36

0.133 (0.030–0.581)*

n = 29

1.320 (0.384–4.537)

n = 54

0.630 (0.199–1.993)

n = 67

0.383 (1.114–1.281)

 < 0.01
Speech delay (M)

n = 93

1 (reference)

n = 29

0.648 (0.234–1.792)

n = 38

4.230 (0.914–19.572)

n = 52

0.272 (0.125–0.592)*

n = 63

0.240 (0.114–0.502)*

 < 0.01
Schooling (U) Mainstream school with support (reference: mainstream school)

n = 50

1 (reference)

n = 23

1.556 (0.447–5.413)

n = 25

2.000 (0.334–11.969)

n = 38

0.407 (0.136–1.220)

n = 50

0.293 (0.101–0.854)*

 < 0.01
Special school (reference: mainstream school)

n = 50

1 (reference)

n = 23

0.200 (0.042–0.959)*

n = 25

3.400 (0.661–17.500)

n = 38

0.200 (0.068–0.592)*

n = 50

0.224 (0.084–0.598)*

 < 0.01
Behavioural disorders (M)

n = 88

1 (reference)

n = 35

0.871 (0.220–3.449)

n = 29

1.572 (0.416–5.939)

n = 53

2.601 (0.799–8.468)

n = 64

2.047 (0.594–7.051)

0.23
Endocrine dysfunction (U)

n = 87

1 (reference)

n = 35

0.693 (0.137–3.510)

n = 34

4.114 (1.390–12.176)*

n = 53

1.190 (0.358–3.961)

n = 64

1.404 (0.467–4.222)

0.06
Mortality (M)

n = 96

1 (reference)

n = 35

n = 41

6.070 (1.137–32.390)*

n = 60

1.771 (0.306–10.248)

n = 70

0.932 (0.131–6.630)

0.01
Age at death (years)˟

n = 7

1.91 (0.70–5.18)

n = 0

n = 12

1.16 (0.02–5.62)

n = 7

1.42 (0.81–5.63)

n = 4

1.93 (0.31–4.69)

0.69

Predictors included in the final model varied by clinical outcome are as follows:

CP: birthweight (a priori — gestational age excluded due to high multicollinearity) and number of revisions < 2 years of age (significant in model: significantly increased the odds of CP by 34.1% for every revision, p = 0.04)

Epilepsy: gestational age (a priori), corrected age at VP shunt insertion (a priori), shunt revision ≤ 1 year of age (a priori), number of revisions < 1 year of age (a priori), and shunt infection ≤ 1 year of age (a priori)

Speech delay: sex (significant in model: male sex significantly increased odds of speech delay by 49.5%, p = 0.02)

Schooling: there is no multivariate model for schooling as it was not significantly affected by any of the possible predictors included in model building, nor were any predictors indicated for a priori inclusion

Mortality: gestational age (a priori) and corrected age at VP shunt insertion (a priori and significant in model: odds of mortality decreased by 0.6% for every week older the infant was at shunt insertion, p = 0.04)

Behavioural outcome: gestational age (a priori), number of revisions before age 2 (a priori), and sex (a priori and significant in model: male sex significantly increased odds of behavioural disorders by 43.3%, p < 0.05)

Endocrine dysfunction: there is no multivariate model as the outcome was not significantly affected by any of the possible predictors, nor were any predictors indicated for a priori inclusion

PHH post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus, NTDs neural tube defects, CP cerebral palsy

˟Median (range)

*Parameters that are statistically significant between that aetiology group and PHH (using logistic regression)