Epidemiology

In 2016, the estimated number of people globally with active epilepsy was 45.9 million.[6] For the US in 2015, this figure was around 3.4 million.[7] A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis of international studies reported an incidence rate of epilepsy of 61.4 in 100,000 person-years.[8] In high-income countries, age-specific incidence of epilepsy is highest in people under age 20 years (especially those in the first few months of life), and in adults over age 60 years, with a lower incidence among people between 20 and 60 years.[9]

The 2016 Global Burden of Disease study reported an age-standardized prevalence of epilepsy of 622 per 100,000 population.[6] A similar estimate of 638 per 100,000 was reported in a 2017 review, with a pooled point prevalence of 433 per 100,000 for generalized seizures.[8] Prevalence is reported to increase with age, with peaks at 5-9 years and >80 years.[6]

The reported incidence and prevalence of epilepsy is higher in low-/middle-income countries than in high-income countries.[6][8][10]​​ Prevalence in the Global Burden of Disease study varied from a low of 311 in 100,000 population in Japan to a high of 1288 in 100,000 population in Cape Verde. These differences may be due in part to differences in factors such as mortality, etiology (e.g., number of central nervous system infections), access to treatment, and study methodology.[6][8][11]

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