The prevalence of epilepsy and pharmacoresistant epilepsy in adults: A population‐based study in a Western European country

作者：Marie‐Christine Picot, Michel Baldy-Moulinier, Jean‐Pierre Daurès, Pierre Dujols, Arielle Crespel · 发表于：Epilepsia · 年份：2008 · DOI：10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01579.x · 被引用次数：457 · 研究领域：Epilepsy research and treatment、Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies、Pain Management and Opioid Use

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in a defined adult population and identify the frequency and principal features of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. METHODS: From a population over 15 years of age residing in a medium-sized French city, all patients with epilepsy on June 30, 1995 were identified from multiple sources. Pharmacoresistance was defined as failure to control epilepsy by at least two first-line antiepileptic drugs, with a seizure frequency of at least one per month for 18 months. Collected data were examined by experts in epileptology, and responding patients were reexamined using a standardized diagnostic questionnaire. ILAE definitions and classifications were used. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence of active epilepsy was 5.4 per 1,000 (95% CI: 4.7-6.0) and was higher for males (7.8) than for females (5.2). For epilepsy in remission under treatment, this rate was 0.7 per 1,000 (95% CI: 0.5-0.95). Age-specific prevalence was highest in age groups 25-49 years and declined in the oldest age groups. Localization-related seizures represented 61.1% of cases and generalized seizures 30.9%. The proportion of noncontrolled epilepsy (seizure-frequency at least one per month for 18 months) was 15.6%, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.94 per 1,000. In this group, the mean age at onset was lower (p = 0.0007) and localization-related epilepsy more frequent (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings support previous epidemiological estimates of the prevalence of epilep...