A Descriptive Study of Epilepsy in the District of Copparo, Italy, 1964–1978

Abstract

Worldwide investigation of the epidemiology of epilepsy has suggested wide variations in the frequency of convulsive disorders. However, descriptive studies in general populations cannot be completely comparable because of a remarkable methodological dishomogeneity in definition of epilepsy, classification of seizures, and ascertainment, collection, and selection of the cases. The position with regard to the Mediterranean people was still little known, and the few studies presently available from Italy offer underestimates of epilepsy frequency owing to incompleteness in case-collection practices and lack of information about the incidence of the disease. Therefore, to verify the true frequency of epilepsy in our country, we performed a community-based epidemiologic study of convulsive disorders in the district of Copparo (population 45,153) in northern Italy. Based on 278 accepted cases with "active" epilepsy, the prevalence per 1,000 population on December 31, 1978, was 6.2 (6.4 if standardized to the Italian population). The average annual incidence for the period 1964 through 1978 was 33.1 per 100,000 (38.3 if standardized). These results, similar to those found in other Western countries, support the view that the frequency of epilepsy in Italy as a whole is higher than that indicated by the Italian studies previously published, and suggest that epilepsy is evenly distributed in Europe and the United States. Antecedents which could be considered potential causes of epilepsy were found in 39.6%, and in 39.1% of the prevalence and incidence cases, respectively; for both prevalence and incidence groups, perinatal brain injuries were the most frequent event. This high proportion of epileptic cases with underlying causes emphasizes the urgency of planning precautionary measures in Italy to improve prenatal and perinatal medical care.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Electroencephalography (EEG) Among Patients Referred to an Electrophysiology Lab in Bangladesh

“…The frequency of both partial seizure and GTCS varied among different studies, which might account for the difference in methodological and geographical perspective. Granieri et al 49 , Olafsson et al 51 and Tekle-Haimanot et al 53 found a higher proportion of HTCS like our study. Studies on adult epilepsies showed that the chance of detecting interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) from the first EEG varies between 29% and 55% [54][55][56] .…”

“…Seizure-specific incidence or proportions of cases with a specific seizure type based on the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures are provided in several contemporary incidence studies [49][50][51][52][53] . The frequency of both partial seizure and GTCS varied among different studies, which might account for the difference in methodological and geographical perspective.…”

Comparative Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Pakistan and Turkey: Population‐Based Studies Using Identical Protocols

“…On the whole, the variations in the male/ female ratio are minimal and probably insignificant. A higher male preponderance in developed countries has been attributed to higher cranial trauma (3).…”

“…Epidemiological studies in various countries have shown prevalence rates of epilepsy to range from 1.5 to 19.5 in 1,000 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Several factors may contribute to these discrepancies: a lack of uniform definition; variations in classification; and inconsistency in case ascertainment, collection, and selection (6,7).…”

Estudo da prevalência de epilepsia em crianças e adolescentes da comunidade de Paraisópolis

“…A taxa de prevalência de epilepsia nos países desenvolvidos varia de 3 -8/1000 4,5 , ao passo que na América Latina, nos países em desenvolvimento, essa taxa se encontra em torno de 3 -57/1000 6,7 . Se nos países desenvolvidos se observa maior taxa de prevalência nas idades extremas da vida, nos países latino-americanos são relatadas as maiores taxas de prevalência, entre 15 -40 anos de idade 8,9 .…”