Highlights
- •In the UK, the estimated overall point prevalence for epilepsy was 9.37 per 1000 persons.
- •The overall estimated incidence rate was 42.68 per 100,000 person-years.
- •In England, the estimated incidence, 37.41 per 100,000 person-years and prevalence, 8.85 per 1000 persons was lower compared to figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to update overall incidence and prevalence calculations
for epilepsy of the United Kingdom (UK) and its constituent nations (England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland, and Wales).
Methods
We used data from primary care practices contributing to the Clinical Practice Research
Datalink (CRPD), based on the electronic health records of 14 million patients, representing
approximately 20% of the population. CPRD contains data from two different health
record systems: the Vision clinical system (CPRD GOLD database) and the EMIS Web®
clinical system (CPRD Aurum database). We calculated incidence and prevalence rates
with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Data were stratified by age, gender, deprivation,
country (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and region (England only).
Results
In the UK, the estimated overall point prevalence for epilepsy was 9.37 per 1000 persons
/ year (95% CI 9.34–9.40) and the overall estimated incidence rate was 42.68 per 100,000
person-years (95% 42.18–43.18) using the CPRD GOLD database. In England, the estimated
incidence (37.41 (95% CI 36.96–37.83)) and prevalence (8.85 (95% CI 8.83–8.87)) was
lower (combined databases) compared to figures for Scotland (incidence 47.76 (95%
CI 46.15–49.42)); prevalence 10.13 (95% CI 10.06–10.20)) (CPRD GOLD only), Wales (incidence
54.84 (95% CI 52.79–56.95); prevalence 11.40 (95% CI 11.31–11.49)) (CPRD GOLD only)
and Northern Ireland (incidence 46.18 (95% CI 43.13–49.90); prevalence 12.08 (95%
CI 11.93–12.23))(combined databases). Prevalence and incidence were higher in more
deprived regions.
Conclusion
The prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in the UK is broadly in line with other high
income countries, showing the usual pattern of high incidence in the young and the
old, with a nadir in middle age. The prevalence of epilepsy has fallen slightly since
2011. There is significant geographical variation (between countries and between regions),
and a suggestion of a relationship between deprivation and epilepsy which needs further
investigation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 05, 2023
Accepted:
January 4,
2023
Received in revised form:
December 20,
2022
Received:
October 31,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
