Peimin Yu1, Dong Zhou2, Weiping Liao3, Xin Wang4, Yuping Wang5, Tiancheng Wang6, Yuan Wu7, Senyang Lang8, Weihong Lin9, Yijun Song10, Heqing Zhao11, Meng Cai12, Zhen Hong13. 1. Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: tracypmyu@163.com. 2. West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: zhoudong66@yahoo.de. 3. Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: wpliao@163.net. 4. Neurology Department, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: wang.xin@zs-hospital.sh.cn. 5. Neurology Department, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: wangyp01@sina.cn. 6. Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Gansu, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: w_tianch@aliyun.com. 7. First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Provincial Medical College, Nanning, China. Electronic address: 1360771316@126.com. 8. Neurology Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address: langsy@263.net. 9. The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, Changchun, China. Electronic address: linweihong321@126.com. 10. Neurology Department, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: songyijun2000@126.com. 11. Neurology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, Suzhou, China. Electronic address: zhao_heqing@163.com. 12. GlaxoSmithKline (China) Investment Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: sabrina.m.cai@gsk.com. 13. Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: hongzhen@medmail.com.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the distribution of seizure types, clinical characteristics, and antiepileptic drug (AED) utilization in patients with epilepsy visiting tertiary hospitals in China. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional epidemiology study conducted at 11 tertiary hospitals across China from May 2014 to November 2014. A total of 1603 patients, of either sex or any age with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, visiting outpatient clinics at tertiary hospitals were screened and enrolled. Demographics, seizure types, frequency, etiologies, comorbidities, and current AED therapy were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, the majority (n=1201; 74.9%) of patients were adults (16-59years of age), and the mean (SD) age was 27.5 (15.9) years. A total of 989 (61.7%) patients had partial seizures, and 653 (40.7%) had generalized seizures. The majority experienced monthly (n=663) or yearly (n=625) seizures, with 2.7seizures/month or 2.9seizures/year, respectively. The most commonly reported symptomatic etiologies were traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, and stroke, whereas the most common comorbidities were sleep disorder, headache, anxiety, and depression. Overall, monotherapy was used in 54.1% of patients, while 30.6% of patients used dual therapy. The most commonly prescribed monotherapy for patients with partial seizures was oxcarbazepine (25.9%), while that for patients with generalized seizures was valproic acid (38.9%), and the most common AED combination was valproic acid and lamotrigine. Overall, valproic acid was the most commonly prescribed AED as monotherapy and combination therapy. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study provide extensive information on clinical characteristics and utilization of AEDs in Chinese patients with epilepsy which may help physicians make well-informed clinical decisions.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the distribution of seizure types, clinical characteristics, and antiepileptic drug (AED) utilization in patients with epilepsy visiting tertiary hospitals in China. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional epidemiology study conducted at 11 tertiary hospitals across China from May 2014 to November 2014. A total of 1603 patients, of either sex or any age with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, visiting outpatient clinics at tertiary hospitals were screened and enrolled. Demographics, seizure types, frequency, etiologies, comorbidities, and current AED therapy were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, the majority (n=1201; 74.9%) of patients were adults (16-59years of age), and the mean (SD) age was 27.5 (15.9) years. A total of 989 (61.7%) patients had partial seizures, and 653 (40.7%) had generalized seizures. The majority experienced monthly (n=663) or yearly (n=625) seizures, with 2.7seizures/month or 2.9seizures/year, respectively. The most commonly reported symptomatic etiologies were traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, and stroke, whereas the most common comorbidities were sleep disorder, headache, anxiety, and depression. Overall, monotherapy was used in 54.1% of patients, while 30.6% of patients used dual therapy. The most commonly prescribed monotherapy for patients with partial seizures was oxcarbazepine (25.9%), while that for patients with generalized seizures was valproic acid (38.9%), and the most common AED combination was valproic acid and lamotrigine. Overall, valproic acid was the most commonly prescribed AED as monotherapy and combination therapy. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study provide extensive information on clinical characteristics and utilization of AEDs in Chinese patients with epilepsy which may help physicians make well-informed clinical decisions.