Prevalence Of Epilepsy In Children Research Articles

Effectiveness of Electronic Learning Courses on Neurologist Knowledge of Epilepsy Classification: A Study Based on the Kirkpatrick Model

Background: Nowadays, it is generally accepted that focusing on in-service training can lead to organizational progress and improvements in the training process. Objectives: Considering the high prevalence of epilepsy in children and the use of new technologies in education, the purpose of this study was to conduct an electronic educational course on epilepsy classification guidelines based on the guidelines of pediatric neurologists and to evaluate the effectiveness of the course using the Kirkpatrick model. Methods: This study was conducted in 2020. The study population comprised pediatric neurologists from universities of medical sciences throughout the country. Inclusion criteria included participation in the course during the semester, availability, and willingness to participate in the study. Participants entered the study according to their personal preference and provided informed consent, and those who were absent from two or more sessions related to these topics were excluded from the study. The study involved participation in the e-learning course on epilepsy classification according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017). The sample size was calculated using Cochran's formula, which resulted in 74 participants. Nineteen of them did not meet the inclusion criteria, and a total of 55 physicians were included in the study. Reaction and learning were the levels considered to evaluate the efficacy of the Kirkpatrick model. To analyze the data, paired t-test and linear regression were used at a significance level of 0.05, using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Results: The results showed that most participants were satisfied with the e-course. The mean learning and behavior level score was 27.51. The findings indicated that the e-learning of epilepsy classification guidelines according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017) improved the performance of pediatric neurologists (P-value ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate that e-learning guidelines for the classification of epilepsy according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017) can be an effective tool in improving the clinical performance of pediatric neurologists. Applying newer methods such as the Kirkpatrick model would be an effective approach in other fields of health as well. It is recommended to use up-to-date and efficient models, such as the Kirkpatrick model, in the field of health sciences.

Prevalence and Temporal Trends of Epilepsy in Children: A Retrospective Birth Cohort Study.

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurologic diseases in children; however, few recent studies examine the prevalence of epilepsy and its evolution over time according to birth or maternal characteristics. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of epilepsy in children born between 2002 and 2020 and the temporal trends by year of birth, in Ontario, Canada, overall, and according to maternal and birth characteristics. We included all in-hospital deliveries between 2002 and 2020 (N = 2,343,482) in Ontario, Canada, using linked administrative health dataset. We estimated the overall prevalence of epilepsy diagnosed before the age of 18 years, by birth and maternal characteristics. For temporal trend analyses, we restricted our population to children born up to 2012 (N = 1,405,271) and examined the prevalence of epilepsy diagnosed by age 8 by their year of birth, using Poisson regression. The overall prevalence of epilepsy in our cohort was 8.1 per 1,000 live births (95% CI: 8.0-8.2). Prevalence was higher for boys, for children born preterm, with congenital malformations, from multiple pregnancies, from mothers born in Canada, and for children living in deprived areas. Epilepsy prevalence diagnosed by age 8 increased slightly between 2002 and 2012 cohorts (6.9 [95% CI: 6.2-7.6] to 7.3 [95% CI: 6.6-8.1] per 1,000 live births, respectively). Differences by gestational age as gradient and socioeconomic characteristics were persistent and stable over time, while those by pregnancy plurality and sex decreased. In a large population-based birth cohort in Canada, we observed a slight increase in epilepsy prevalence over time among children born in 2002 and those born in 2012 and persistent disparities by gestational age, socioeconomic position, and maternal immigration status. This study highlights the need for continued surveillance of rates to see if this increasing trend is persistent, to understand the potential causes behind it, and to understand the persistence of these disparities.

STUDY OF THE PROBLEM OF CHILDREN’S EPILEPSY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA)

Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system in children. According to WHO, more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy. It is estimated that the proportion of the general population with its active form (that is, with recurrent seizures and the need for treatment) currently ranges from 4 to 10 per 1,000 people. Globally, 2.4 million people are diagnosed with this disease every year. In Russia, epilepsy affects more than 1 million people. The analysis of statistical data on the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in children in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was carried out. In Yakutia, the first epidemiological study of epilepsy in the pediatric population was conducted in 1985 by E.A. Krivogornitsyna. As a result of the survey, data were obtained on 322 children who were registered at the dispensary with neurologists and psychiatrists in 32 districts of the republic and the city of Yakutsk. According to the study of the epidemiology of epilepsy in children in 2004 (Baisheva G.M., 2004), the prevalence of epilepsy was 5.2 per 1,000 children of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and the primary incidence was 114 per 100,000 children. Prevalence of epilepsy in children under 14 years of age in 2020 was 5.4 per 1,000 population, the primary incidence was 50 per 100,000 population. On average, from 2010 to 2020, the primary incidence of epilepsy in children is 80 per 100,000 population. The prevalence of epilepsy in adolescents aged 15 – 17 years averaged 10.4 %. The average value of primary morbidity in this group of children was 140 per 100,000 population. The organization of comprehensive medical care will make it possible to form a strategy for the management of epilepsy patients at the municipal and republic levels.

Prevalence and related factors of epilepsy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To study the worldwide prevalence and associated factors of epilepsy in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to analyze the differences between various subgroups. We identified all potential studies on the prevalence of epilepsy in children and adolescents with CP from PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. The search time was from the establishment of the database to November 2022. Randomized effects meta-analysis models were used to calculate the prevalence of epilepsy in CP. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were utilized to further explore heterogeneity between articles and prevalence disparities between subgroups. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to investigate potential publication bias. Seventy-two articles, comprising 53,969 children and adolescents with CP, were included in this study. The results indicated a total epilepsy prevalence of 38.0% (95% CI: 34.8%-41.2%) in CP. The prevalence of epilepsy was 46.4% (95% CI: 41.4%-51.5%) in clinical sample-based studies and 31.6% (95% CI: 28.7%-34.5%) in population-based studies. Meta-regression demonstrated that the sample source, neonatal seizure, family history of epilepsy, EEG or cranial imaging abnormalities, intellectual/cognitive impairment, and topographical types of CP were heterogeneous contributors to the epilepsy prevalence in CP. Approximately one-third of children and adolescents with CP have epilepsy, and the sample source can significantly impact the total prevalence of epilepsy. Neonatal seizures, family history of epilepsy, EEG abnormalities, cranial imaging abnormalities, severe intellectual disability, and quadriplegia may be contributing factors to epilepsy comorbid in CP. Further study is required to verify the strength of these associations with epilepsy. This study aids in identifying the clinical characteristics of young people with CP at risk of developing epilepsy, which may assist clinicians in the early prevention and diagnosis of epilepsy within this population.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=367766, identifier CRD42022367766.

Epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy: a data linkage study.

To compare the prevalence of epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to peer controls and their differences in healthcare utilization. The Quebec CP registry was linked to the provincial administrative health database. Two CP cohorts were identified from the registry (n=302, 168 males, 1y 2mo-14y) and administrative data (n=370, 221 males, 2y 2mo-14y). A control cohort (n=6040, 3340 males, 10-14y) was matched by age, sex, and region to the CP registry cohort. Administrative data algorithms were used to define epilepsy cases. Data on hospitalizations and emergency department presentations were obtained. Using the most sensitive epilepsy definition, prevalence was 42.05% in the CP registry, 43.24% in the CP administrative data, and 1.39% in controls. Prevalence rose with increasing Gross Motor Function Classification System level. Children with CP and epilepsy had increased number and length of hospitalizations and emergency department presentations compared to children with CP or epilepsy alone. Epilepsy accounted for approximately 5% of emergency department presentations and 10% of hospitalizations in children with epilepsy, with and without CP. Children with CP have an increased risk of epilepsy compared to their peers. Children with CP and coexisting epilepsy represent a unique subset with complex developmental disability and increased healthcare service utilization.

Are pediatric patients with epilepsy at higher risk for COVID-19 Retrospective analysis from Sidra Medicine, Doha-Qatar

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread in few months from a small focus in Wuhan (Hubei province, China) to over 28 million people worldwide , COVID-19 is often more severe in people 60+yrs or with health conditions like lung ,heart disease, diabetes or conditions that affect their immune system (1). Several countries independently adopted strict containment measures to slow the local spread of SARS-CoV-2. As other countries, widespread lockdown measures were applied in Doha –Qatar from March 17 to June 1st 2020 that restricted physical contacts, individual movements including school attendance. This reflected during the beginning of the academic year 2020-2021 by parental fear to send their children with epilepsy back to their school considering that epilepsy could be a risk factor for covid19 infection. The prevalence of epilepsy in children ranges from 3.2 to 5.5 per 1000, being highest in the first year of life, but matching adult rates by the end of the first decade (2). Epilepsy in children is the second greatest neurological disorder burden worldwide (3), often associated with cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities (4). These patients were not highly susceptible to COVID-19 during the pandemic, the estimate rate of infection among pediatric patient with epilepsy was around (0.4%) for those who became sick. Meanwhile Viral infection is a risk factor for seizures in children with certain developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) with fever sensitivity, such as Dravet Syndrome and SCN1A-related phenotypes. We aimed to assess if the COVID-19 infection affected children with epilepsy in a higher rate than other children.

Epileptic phenotypes in children with early-onset mitochondrial diseases.

To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in children with early-onset mitochondrial diseases (MDs) and to evaluate the epileptic phenotypes and associated features. Children affected by MD with onset during the first year of life were enrolled. Patients were classified according to their mitochondrial phenotype, and all findings in patients with epilepsy versus patients without were compared. The epileptic features were analyzed. The series includes 129 patients (70 females) with median age at disease onset of 3months. The median time of follow-up was 5years. Non-syndromic mitochondrial encephalopathy and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency were the main mitochondrial diseases associated with epilepsy (P<0.05). Seizures occurred in 48%, and the presence of epilepsy was significantly associated with earlier age at disease onset, presence of perinatal manifestations, and early detection of developmental delay and regression (P<0.001). Epileptic encephalopathy (EE) with spasms and EE with prominent focal seizures were the most detected epileptic syndromes (37% and 27.4%). Several seizure types were recorded in 53.2%, with the unusual association of generalized and focal epileptic pattern. Disabling epilepsy was detected in 63% and was associated with early seizure onset, presence of several seizure types, epileptic syndrome featuring EE, and the recurrence of episodes of status epilepticus and epilepsia partialis continua (P<0.05). Epilepsy in children with early-onset MD may be a presenting or a prominent symptom in a multisystemic clinical presentation. Epilepsy-related factors could determine a worst seizure outcome, leading to a more severe burned of the disease.

Prevalence of epilepsy in children with IDDM and relation to anti GAD65 antibodies

Prevalence of epilepsy in children with IDDM and relation to anti GAD65 antibodies

Prevalence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt (desert areas)

BackgroundA high prevalence of epilepsy in children is frequently found in developing countries.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical pattern of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt.MethodsThis is a door-to-door study conducted on all inhabitants < 18 years in Al Kharga district and Al Qusier city (36,195 subjects). The study was conducted through two stages; every stage consisted of two phases (screening and diagnostic).ResultsLifetime prevalence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy (children < 18 years) in Upper Egypt was 9.7/1000, with higher prevalence among children < 12 years (10.8/1000) than adolescents (7.2/1000). The age-specific prevalence was highest in early childhood (12.01/1000) and least at adolescence (7.2/1000). More than half of the patients (59.4%) had idiopathic epilepsy. The most frequent etiology for structural/metabolic epilepsy was perinatal complications, particularly in infancy, followed by central nervous system (CNS) infections, in childhood, and post-traumatic epilepsy in adolescence. Partial seizures were more frequent in infancy, while generalized seizures were more frequent in late childhood and adolescence. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) were the most frequent type of seizures.ConclusionPrevalence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt was not so much different from other developing countries. Idiopathic epilepsy was more prevalent than structural/metabolic cases. Perinatal complications, CNS infections, and head injury were the most frequent etiologies, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most frequent seizure type.

Incidence, prevalence and aetiology of seizures and epilepsy in children.

To (1) summarize published, peer-reviewed literature about the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in children from developed and developing countries around the world, and (2) discuss problems in defining aetiologies of epilepsy in children, and distinguish between seizures and epilepsy. Review of selected literature with particular attention to systematic reviews. The incidence of epilepsy in children ranges from 41-187/100,000. Higher incidence is reported from underdeveloped countries, particularly from rural areas. The incidence is consistently reported to be highest in the first year of life and declines to adult levels by the end of the first decade. The prevalence of epilepsy in children is consistently higher than the incidence and ranges from 3.2-5.5/1,000 in developed countries and 3.6-44/1,000 in underdeveloped countries. Prevalence also seems highest in rural areas. The incidence and prevalence of specific seizure types and epilepsy syndromes is less well documented. In population-based studies, there is a slight, but consistent, predominance of focal seizures compared with generalized seizures. Only about one third of children with epilepsy can be assigned to a specific epilepsy syndrome, as defined by the most recently proposed system for organization of epilepsy syndromes. The incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in children appears to be lower in developed countries and highest in rural areas of underdeveloped countries. The reasons for these trends are not well established. Although focal seizures predominate, the incidence and prevalence of specific epilepsy syndromes is not well documented.

Diabetes and epilepsy in children and adolescents.

Over the last years, there has been an increasing interest in the potential association between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and epilepsy. Both T1D and epilepsy are common conditions in children and adolescents, and therefore, their association might represent simply a coincidence or be related to common underlying mechanisms with a potential causal relationship. Few epidemiological studies have been performed in the pediatric population, and they have reached discordant conclusions, with some studies reporting an increased prevalence of epilepsy in children and adolescents with T1D, whereas others have not confirmed this finding. Several mechanisms could explain the occurrence of epilepsy in young people with T1D, such as metabolic abnormalities (hypo/hyperglycemia) and autoantibodies, along with a genetic predisposition and the presence of brain lesions/damage. Further studies are required to better define whether there is a causal relationship between the two conditions and to understand the underlying mechanisms.

The surgical management of pediatric brain tumors causing epilepsy: consideration of the epileptogenic zone.

Children suffering from epilepsy with suspected low-grade tumors may benefit from a surgical approach that considers the epileptogenic zone, which can be more extensive than the tumor region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of epilepsy in children undergoing supratentorial tumor resection and the factors predictive of postoperative seizure freedom in children with low-grade tumors. Subjects 3 months to 21 years undergoing supratentorial brain tumor resection between 2007 and 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Children with supratentorial, cortically based tumors and a preoperative diagnosis of epilepsy were considered epilepsy surgery candidates. Pre- and postoperative MRI were reviewed and scored for extent of resection, adjacent dysplasia, and remaining abnormal cortex postoperatively. The prevalence of seizures in all cases of supratentorial tumors was 46/87 (53 %). Eighteen were epilepsy surgery candidates. Eight of 18 (44 %) were seizure-free postoperatively with a mean follow-up of 39 months. Children who were seizure free postoperatively had tried fewer anticonvulsants than those with continued seizures (1.7 v. 2.9, p = 0.01). Presurgical evaluation was nonstandardized, and a more extensive workup and resection were performed in children who continued to have seizures postoperatively. All epilepsy surgery candidates had low-grade tumors on histological evaluation, indicating that a surgical approach that takes into consideration the epileptogenic zone is reasonable in this population. Gross total resection should be the goal, with additional attention to resection of the epileptogenic zone when located in the noneloquent cortex.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a biologically based neurodevelopmental disability characterized by qualitative and persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and by the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Symptoms must be present in early childhood and they must limit and impair everyday functioning. There is an increased prevalence of epilepsy and/or epileptiform electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities in children with ASD. It is estimated that approximately one-third of children and adolescents with ASD experience seizures, but the relationship between epilepsy and autism is controversial. This article reviews the types of seizures associated with ASD, the EEG findings, and current treatment strategies. The article also describes syndromes associated with the autism phenotype and epilepsy.

Clinical Characteristics of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Epilepsy

ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of children with ASD and epilepsy in a large patient population.MethodsCross-sectional study using four samples of children with ASD for a total of 5,815 participants with ASD. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated from a population-based sample. Children with and without epilepsy were compared on demographic and clinical characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between demographic and clinical characteristics and epilepsy.ResultsThe average prevalence of epilepsy in children with ASD 2–17 years was 12.5%; among children aged 13 years and older, 26% had epilepsy. Epilepsy was associated with older age, lower cognitive ability, poorer adaptive and language functioning, a history of developmental regression and more severe ASD symptoms. The association between epilepsy and the majority of these characteristics appears to be driven by the lower IQ of participants with epilepsy. In a multivariate regression model, only age and cognitive ability were independently associated with epilepsy. Children age 10 or older had 2.35 times the odds of being diagnosed with epilepsy (p<.001) and for a one standard deviation increase in IQ, the odds of having epilepsy decreased by 47% (p<.001).ConclusionThis is among the largest studies to date of patients with ASD and co-occurring epilepsy. Based on a representative sample of children with ASD, the average prevalence of epilepsy is approximately 12% and reaches 26% by adolescence. Independent associations were found between epilepsy and older age and lower cognitive ability. Other risk factors, such as poor language and developmental regression, are not associated with epilepsy after controlling for IQ. These findings can help guide prognosis and alert clinicians to patients with ASD who are at increased risk for epilepsy.

Access to antiepileptic drug therapy in children in Camagüey Province, Cuba†

ObjectiveTo describe access to antiepileptic drug therapy and estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in children in Camagüey Province, Cuba.MethodsAll the community pharmacies in the province were visited and information collected about the number of children receiving antiepileptic drugs in 2009. Availability and cost of each antiepileptic drug were determined. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated by determining the number of children receiving antiepileptic drugs.ResultsThere were 923 children who received a total of 977 antiepileptic drugs in Camagüey Province. The estimated prevalence of epilepsy was 5.18 per thousand children which is lower than previously reported rates in other low and lower-middle income countries. Most of the children (871, 94%) received a single antiepileptic drug. Carbamazepine and valproate were the two most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drugs. Antiepileptic drugs were available from the local pharmacy on 76% of occasions. If the antiepileptic drug was not available from the local pharmacy, the parent had to travel to another pharmacy to obtain the medicine.ConclusionsThe estimated prevalence of epilepsy in children in Cuba is lower than that estimated in other lower-middle income countries. Access to drug therapy in children with epilepsy can be achieved in lower-middle income countries.

Study of prevalence of epilepsy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

PurposeTo evaluate the prevalence of epilepsy in children (<16yrs) with type 1 diabetes. MethodsA review of clinical notes and investigations was carried out on all the children with type 1 diabetes who were under follow-up in the Paediatric Diabetes clinic at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in the year 2010. ResultsOf 285 children aged <16 years with type 1 diabetes, six also had epilepsy giving a prevalence of 21/1000. This is approximately six times greater than the prevalence of epilepsy in the general population of children in UK. ConclusionEpilepsy appears to occur more frequently in children with type 1 diabetes than in the general paediatric population.

Współwystępowanie cukrzycy typu I i padaczki u dzieci w południowo-wschodniej Polsce

IntroductionCoexistence of type I diabetes with other autoimmune diseases is already well known. The role of the immune response is currently under consideration in many neurological disorders including epilepsy. ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of epilepsy in children with type I diabetes in South-Eastern Poland Material and MethodsWe’ve analyzed the medical records of 784 children with type I diabetes who were under the care of Diabetes Clinic for Children at the State Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow over 10 years, from January 2001 to December 2010. ResultsAmong 784 patients with diabetes mellitus type I eight of them also suffered from epilepsy (1.02%). For the 7 children type I diabetes mellitus was the first disease diagnosed, one child was initially diagnosed with epilepsy, and two years later, type I diabetes. Each of the children had seizures of varying morphology (petit mal, partial, myoclonic, generalized tonic-clonic seizures). During acute seizures in 4 children poor control of diabetes was observed. All patients had abnormal EEG changes localized and generalized. Neuroimaging studies performed in 7 children showed no abnormallities, one MRI revealed a cyst of cerebellopontine angle and atrophic corpus callosum. Currently 5 children received valproic acid therapy, 3 children require a combination of 2 or 3 antiepileptic drugs. In 1 patient, during hospitalization due to a significant increase in seizure frequency, intravenous immunoglobulin was used with good effect. ConclusionsPrevalence of epilepsy in patients with type I diabetes is not common but we need to be aware of the possible autoimmune nature of seizure disorders.

Epilepsy in rural Ugandan children: seizure pattern, age of onset and associated findings.

Much information on childhood epilepsy in sub Saharan Africa is hospital based. A survey was considered necessary before integrating epilepsy management into a Ugandan community programme. Using an 'outreach' method, children with recurrent seizures were offered assessment at 19 sites in Rukungiri District. A brief history and neurological and developmental assessment was carried out on each child. A clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, including seizure type, was given to 440 of 618 children <18 years with 178 exclusions. The age-specific prevalence of epilepsy in children < 15 years was 2.04‰ (95% CI 1.94‰ to 2.24 ‰) based on 395 cases in an <15 years population of 193,126. Percentage distribution by seizure type was:-generalised tonic-clonic (53%), complex partial seizures CPS (27%), simple partial and miscellaneous seizures (6% each), with some diagnostic overlap between seizure types. Cerebral palsy, evident or evolving, was most strongly associated with CPS. A positive perinatal or infantile history was noted in 12 and 6% respectively, and 50.2% of seizures began in infancy. The prevalence of epilepsy is similar in Gambian children. The high contribution from early-onset CPS, resembles Kenyan reports of malaria-associated CPS, suggesting a causal association with malaria.

Prevalence of Epilepsy in Children From a Brazilian Area of High Deprivation

This study assessed the prevalence rate of epilepsy and its causes in children and adolescents in one area of high deprivation in São Paulo, São Paulo, in Southeast Brazil. Between July 2005 and June 2006, 4947 families from a population of 22,013 inhabitants (including 10,405 children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 16 years) living in the shantytown of Paraisópolis, were interviewed. In the first phase, a validated questionnaire was administered, to identify the occurrence of seizures. In the second phase, clinical history, neurologic examination, electroencephalography, and structural neuroimaging were performed. The diagnosis of epilepsy, including etiology, seizure types, and epileptic syndrome classification, was according to criteria of the International League Against Epilepsy. The screening phase identified 353 presumptive cases. In the second phase, 101 of these cases (33.8%) received the diagnosis of epilepsy. Crude prevalence of epilepsy was 9.7/1000 and prevalence of active epilepsy was 8.7/1000. Partial seizures were the most frequent seizure type (62/101). Symptomatic focal epilepsy was the most common form, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy the most common etiology, reflecting the socioeconomic conditions of this specific population. Adequate public policies regarding perinatal assistance could help reduce the prevalence of epilepsy.

Period Prevalence of Epilepsy in Children in BC: A Population-Based Study

Most estimates of the prevalence of seizure disorders in Canada derive from national surveys which differ in sampling and case-finding methods. This study used health care utilization data to make a population-based estimate of the prevalence of epileptic seizures and of epilepsy in children in British Columbia (BC). All BC residents between 0-19 years-of-age in 2002-3 enrolled in the Medical Services Plan were included. Epileptic seizures were defined using ICD-9 codes; health care utilization data was obtained from BC Linked Health Database. The period prevalence of epileptic seizures and of epilepsy was determined by age, urban/rural region and socioeconomic status. 8,125 of 1,013,816 children were identified as having an epileptic seizure of which 5621 were classified as epilepsy--5.5 per 1000 children (95% CI: 5.4-5.7). The prevalence of epilepsy in infants and preschoolers was higher than that reported in the literature. A higher prevalence of epilepsy was observed also among those with low socioeconomic status. A higher prevalence of epilepsy was observed in those health regions with a higher proportion of First Nations and a lower prevalence was observed in health regions with a higher proportion of visible minorities. Age-specific prevalence rates in BC children for epilepsy, determined from population-based administrative records, were similar to published data except in children under five years. We found a gradient of increased prevalence with decreased level of income. Prevalence rates based on utilization data have the potential to guide program planning for children with epileptic seizures.