# Home Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Cerebral Palsy in the Years 2012–2022: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data from the National Health Fund of Poland

## TL;DR

This study analyzed data from Poland's National Health Fund to assess the use of home enteral nutrition in cerebral palsy patients from 2012 to 2022.

## Contribution

The study provides the first nationwide analysis of home enteral nutrition trends in CP patients in Poland.

## Key findings

- The proportion of CP patients receiving HEN remained low, increasing from 2.1% to 3.5% in children and from 0.8% to 1.7% in adults over the study period.
- HEN use correlated with age, showing a noticeable increase among older children and adolescents.
- The study highlights the need for a national CP registry and increased clinician awareness of HEN.

## Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) often correlates with a higher risk of malnutrition, negatively affecting the quality of life of patients and their families. Enteral nutrition via a feeding tube should be considered to improve the nutritional status of CP patients. To date, there has been no nationwide registry of patients with CP in Poland. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of home enteral nutrition (HEN) provision in pediatric and adult patients with CP. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ) on the provision of HEN in patients with CP in 2012–2022. A specially designed and validated questionnaire was sent to the 16 regional branches of NFZ. Results: Completed questionnaires were sent back from 12 NFZ branches. In 2022, CP cases increased by 7%, primarily among adults, while pediatric cases dropped by 21%. Despite a rising trend, the proportion of patients receiving HEN remained relatively low. Among children, it increased from 2.1% in 2012 to 3.3–3.5% in 2019–2021. For adults, it nearly doubled from 0.8% in 2012 to 1.7% in 2022. The prevalence of enteral feeding correlated with patient age, with a noticeable increase among older children and adolescents. Conclusions: National Health Fund data highlight the need for a nationwide registry of patients with CP. A relatively small proportion of pediatric and adult CP patients receive HEN. Increasing clinicians’ awareness of HEN availability is necessary to improve the quality of life for more CP patients.