BACKGROUND: In China, few studies have described annual mortality associated with epilepsy in a general population and these have provided a range of 3.0-7.9 deaths per 100,000 people. We calculated the case fatality rate (CFR), proportional mortality rate (PMR), and standardised mortality ratio (SMR) to assess mortality in people with epilepsy in rural China. METHODS: The target population was people with epilepsy who participated in an assessment of epilepsy management at primary health level in rural China. Neurologists confirmed the diagnosis using strict criteria in all participants who were then treated with phenobarbital. Demographic data and putative cause of death were recorded for each person whose death was reported. PMRs for each cause of death and SMRs were estimated on the basis of the 2004 Chinese population. FINDINGS: Case fatality rate was 1.4% (35 deaths) among 2455 people with epilepsy. The age-adjusted PMRs for injury, stroke, neoplasm, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia were 30%, 30%, 15%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. The SMR was 3.9 (95% CI 3.8-3.9). Patients aged 15-29 years had higher mortality ratios than did those in other age-groups, with SMRs exceeding 23. INTERPRETATION: Risk for premature death is three to four times higher in people with epilepsy than in the general Chinese population. Furthermore, the risk in young people with epilepsy in China is much higher than previously reported. Injury, stroke, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia are among the leading putative causes of death in patients with epilepsy in rural China.
BACKGROUND: In China, few studies have described annual mortality associated with epilepsy in a general population and these have provided a range of 3.0-7.9 deaths per 100,000 people. We calculated the case fatality rate (CFR), proportional mortality rate (PMR), and standardised mortality ratio (SMR) to assess mortality in people with epilepsy in rural China. METHODS: The target population was people with epilepsy who participated in an assessment of epilepsy management at primary health level in rural China. Neurologists confirmed the diagnosis using strict criteria in all participants who were then treated with phenobarbital. Demographic data and putative cause of death were recorded for each person whose death was reported. PMRs for each cause of death and SMRs were estimated on the basis of the 2004 Chinese population. FINDINGS: Case fatality rate was 1.4% (35 deaths) among 2455 people with epilepsy. The age-adjusted PMRs for injury, stroke, neoplasm, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia were 30%, 30%, 15%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. The SMR was 3.9 (95% CI 3.8-3.9). Patients aged 15-29 years had higher mortality ratios than did those in other age-groups, with SMRs exceeding 23. INTERPRETATION: Risk for premature death is three to four times higher in people with epilepsy than in the general Chinese population. Furthermore, the risk in young people with epilepsy in China is much higher than previously reported. Injury, stroke, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia are among the leading putative causes of death in patients with epilepsy in rural China.
Authors: Wenzhi Wang; Jianzhong Wu; Xiuying Dai; Guangyu Ma; Bin Yang; Taiping Wang; Chenglin Yuan; Ding Ding; Zhen Hong; Patrick Kwan; Gail S Bell; Leonid L Prilipko; Hanneke M de Boer; Josemir W Sander Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Ana-Claire L Meyer; Tarun Dua; W John Boscardin; José J Escarce; Shekhar Saxena; Gretchen L Birbeck Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2012-10-25 Impact factor: 5.864
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Authors: Ryan G Wagner; Christian Bottomley; Anthony K Ngugi; Fredrick Ibinda; F Xavier Gómez-Olivé; Kathleen Kahn; Stephen Tollman; Charles R Newton; Ryan Wagner; Rhian Twine; Myles Connor; Mark Collinson; Honratio Masanja; Alexander Mathew; Angelina Kakooza; George Pariyo; Stefan Peterson; Donald Ndyo-mughenyi; Rachael Odhiambo; Eddie Chengo; Martin Chabi; Evasius Bauni; Gathoni Kamuyu; Victor Mung'ala Odera; James O Mageto; Ken Ae-Ngibise; Bright Akpalu; Albert Akpalu; Francis Agbokey; Patrick Adjei; Seth Owusu-Agyei; Immo Kleinschmidt; Victor C K Doku; Peter Odermatt; Brian Neville; Josemir W Sander; Steve White; Thomas Nutman; Patricia Wilkins; John Noh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-08 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Tansy Edwards; Anthony G Scott; Gilbert Munyoki; Victor Mung'ala Odera; Edward Chengo; Evasius Bauni; Thomas Kwasa; Ley W Sander; Brian G Neville; Charles R Newton Journal: Lancet Neurol Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 44.182
Authors: Anthony K Ngugi; Christian Bottomley; Gregory Fegan; Eddie Chengo; Rachael Odhiambo; Evasius Bauni; Brian Neville; Immo Kleinschmidt; Josemir W Sander; Charles R Newton Journal: Neurology Date: 2014-01-17 Impact factor: 9.910