AccScience Publishing / GTM / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/GTM025060014
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MINI-REVIEW

Prevention and management of respiratory disease in cerebral palsy: Evidence-based strategies and future recommendations

Mohammed Tahayneh1 ,  Rami Jamil Jaber2 ,  Barani Karikalan3 ,  Taha Sulayman4 ,  Syeda Humayra5,6*
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1 Department of Basic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, West Bank, Palestine
2 Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine
3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, Mahsa University, Saujana Putra, Selangor, Malaysia
4 Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Technology MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
5 Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
6 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Global Translational Medicine, 025060014 https://doi.org/10.36922/GTM025060014
Received: 5 February 2025 | Revised: 14 June 2025 | Accepted: 22 September 2025 | Published online: 3 February 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) are at an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases due to various factors, including motor impairments, postural abnormalities, and comorbidities, such as dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease. This paper reviews evidence-based strategies and recommendations for the prevention and management of respiratory diseases in young adults with CP. It highlights the importance of early screening, vaccination, and infection control, as well as the role of pulmonary rehabilitation and physical therapy in improving respiratory function. Non-invasive ventilation and pharmacological management, including bronchodilators and mucolytics, are critical for individuals with compromised lung function. Multidisciplinary care, postural management, and swallowing therapy are key components of a comprehensive treatment approach. In addition, innovations in telemedicine and caregiver education are emerging as effective tools to enhance respiratory care and prevent complications. While challenges remain in accessibility and training, future directions, such as personalized medicine and rehabilitation technologies, offer promising solutions to further improve the respiratory health of individuals with CP. This review underscores the importance of early intervention, coordinated care, and ongoing support to optimize outcomes for individuals with CP and reduce the burden of respiratory diseases.

Keywords
Cerebral palsy
Clinical outcomes
Neurological disorder
Non-invasive ventilation
Respiratory disease
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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Global Translational Medicine, Electronic ISSN: 2811-0021 Print ISSN: 3060-8600, Published by AccScience Publishing
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