Results: The findings indicate that nationwide approximately (1) 10 per 1,000 persons (n = 31,000) 18 years and older have self-reported lifetime prevalence of epilepsy, (2) 8.3-9 per 1,000 (approximately 33,000-36,000) persons 5 years and older are being treated for epilepsy using antiepilepsy medication, (3) the typical general practitioner provides care to an average of 13 patients with active epilepsy and epilepsy in remission with treatment, (4) specialist care is provided on a weekly basis to approximately 442 persons with active epilepsy and epilepsy in remission with treatment, and (5) approximately 67 discharges for persons with a primary or secondary diagnosis of epilepsy are reported from acute hospitals weekly. Discussion: This study is distinguished as the first nationwide prevalence study of epilepsy in Europe and provides previously unavailable data on this population in Ireland. Moreover, this study illustrates the merits of secondary data analysis of existing sources when access to clinical sources for the purpose of identifying epidemiologic samples is limited.

Background Evidence suggests that people with intellectual disabilities experience secondary health conditions and report inequities in health status and access to health systems. Reliable information is essential to identify health disparities. A review of health interview and health examination surveys conducted in 17 European countries was undertaken to determine whether people with intellectual disabilities were represented. Method Using the online HIS HES database, 123 health surveys were scrutinized to determine whether they contained questions relevant to the Pomona 18 indicator set, and whether data could be extracted specifically on behalf of respondents with intellectual disabilities.Results Findings reveal that while items relating to 16 of the Pomona 18 health indicators were found in 123 of the surveys scrutinized, only nine surveys were identified as having potential to extract data on respondents with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion These findings have implications for those charged with the collection of comparable information about population health.

The presence of a pacing centre in a remote part of the United Kingdom fulfils a necessary service and has low complication rates, with implantation rates and patterns that are comparable with those in other parts of the country.

Raigmore is a district general hospital offering a permanent pacemaker service to its catchment population of 233,500. This report reviews the pacemaker practice over a seven year period (1994 to 2000) and makes a comparison with the national database and other hospitals in the UK. The records of all patients receiving new implantions for the period under observation were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included number of patients paced each year, age, sex, indications and complications. In the 84 months studied 3/71 patients received new permanent pacemakers (the mean age was 74 years and 51% were male). The most common presenting symptoms were syncope (62%), dizzy spells (24%), and heart failure (11.5%). The most common indication for permanent pacemaker insertion was complete atrioventricular block (58%) followed by sick sinus syndrome (20%). The implantation rate was 419.3/million population/year in 2000. Pacemaker modes used were appropriate and the early and late complication rates were low (2.7%). This current audit demonstrates continued growth of the service with low-complication rates and implantation rates which approach those in Western Europe and North America.