Kirsten M Fiest1, Khara M Sauro1, Samuel Wiebe1, Scott B Patten1, Churl-Su Kwon1, Jonathan Dykeman1, Tamara Pringsheim1, Diane L Lorenzetti1, Nathalie Jetté2. 1. From the Department of Community Health Sciences, O'Brien Institute for Public Health (K.M.F., K.M.S., S.W., S.B.P., T.P., D.L.L., N.J.), and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Hotchkiss Brain Institute (K.M.S., S.W., J.D., T.P., N.J.) and Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education (S.B.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (K.M.S, S.W., S.B.P., T.P., N.J.), Department of Critical Care Medicine (K.M.F.), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery (C.-S.K.), King's College Hospital, London, UK; and Institute of Health Economics (D.L.L.), Edmonton, Canada. 2. From the Department of Community Health Sciences, O'Brien Institute for Public Health (K.M.F., K.M.S., S.W., S.B.P., T.P., D.L.L., N.J.), and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Hotchkiss Brain Institute (K.M.S., S.W., J.D., T.P., N.J.) and Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education (S.B.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (K.M.S, S.W., S.B.P., T.P., N.J.), Department of Critical Care Medicine (K.M.F.), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery (C.-S.K.), King's College Hospital, London, UK; and Institute of Health Economics (D.L.L.), Edmonton, Canada. Nathalie.jette@ahs.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review population-based studies of the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy worldwide and use meta-analytic techniques to explore factors that may explain heterogeneity between estimates. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards were followed. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for articles published on the prevalence or incidence of epilepsy since 1985. Abstract, full-text review, and data abstraction were conducted in duplicate. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were used to explore the association between prevalence or incidence, age group, sex, country level income, and study quality. RESULTS: A total of 222 studies were included (197 on prevalence, 48 on incidence). The point prevalence of active epilepsy was 6.38 per 1,000 persons (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.57-7.30), while the lifetime prevalence was 7.60 per 1,000 persons (95% CI 6.17-9.38). The annual cumulative incidence of epilepsy was 67.77 per 100,000 persons (95% CI 56.69-81.03) while the incidence rate was 61.44 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 50.75-74.38). The prevalence of epilepsy did not differ by age group, sex, or study quality. The active annual period prevalence, lifetime prevalence, and incidence rate of epilepsy were higher in low to middle income countries. Epilepsies of unknown etiology and those with generalized seizures had the highest prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy from published international studies and offers insight into factors that contribute to heterogeneity between estimates. Significant gaps (e.g., lack of incidence studies, stratification by age groups) were identified. Standardized reporting of future epidemiologic studies of epilepsy is needed.
OBJECTIVE: To review population-based studies of the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy worldwide and use meta-analytic techniques to explore factors that may explain heterogeneity between estimates. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards were followed. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for articles published on the prevalence or incidence of epilepsy since 1985. Abstract, full-text review, and data abstraction were conducted in duplicate. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were used to explore the association between prevalence or incidence, age group, sex, country level income, and study quality. RESULTS: A total of 222 studies were included (197 on prevalence, 48 on incidence). The point prevalence of active epilepsy was 6.38 per 1,000 persons (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.57-7.30), while the lifetime prevalence was 7.60 per 1,000 persons (95% CI 6.17-9.38). The annual cumulative incidence of epilepsy was 67.77 per 100,000 persons (95% CI 56.69-81.03) while the incidence rate was 61.44 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 50.75-74.38). The prevalence of epilepsy did not differ by age group, sex, or study quality. The active annual period prevalence, lifetime prevalence, and incidence rate of epilepsy were higher in low to middle income countries. Epilepsies of unknown etiology and those with generalized seizures had the highest prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy from published international studies and offers insight into factors that contribute to heterogeneity between estimates. Significant gaps (e.g., lack of incidence studies, stratification by age groups) were identified. Standardized reporting of future epidemiologic studies of epilepsy is needed.
Authors: Marco T Medina; Reyna M Durón; Lisandro Martínez; Juan Ramón Osorio; Ana L Estrada; Concepción Zúniga; Dora Cartagena; Julianne S Collins; Kenton R Holden Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Eman M Khedr; Ola A Shawky; Mohamed A Ahmed; Noha Abo Elfetoh; Ghada Al Attar; Anwar M Ali; Mahmoud R Kandil; Hassan Farweez Journal: Epilepsy Res Date: 2012-09-01 Impact factor: 3.045