In a study to assess the global burden of epilepsy, focusing on both idiopathic and secondary epilepsy between 1990 and 2021, there were significant geographical disparities, with low-income and middle-income countries bearing the majority of the epilepsy burden, accounting for over 80% of incident, prevalent, fatal cases, and DALYs.
- In 2021, there were 51.7 million people with epilepsy globally, with an age-standardised prevalence of 658 per 100,000.
- The prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy was 307 per 100,000, while secondary epilepsy had a slightly higher prevalence at 350 per 100,000.
- The global prevalence of epilepsy increased by 10.8% from 1990 to 2021, primarily driven by secondary epilepsy.
The study highlights the ongoing challenges in the treatment and prevention of epilepsy, especially in low-income countries. While the burden of idiopathic epilepsy has improved over the decades, there is still a significant need for better treatment, prevention, and research, particularly on risk factors for idiopathic epilepsy. Despite the rise in prevalence, age-standardised death and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates for idiopathic epilepsy decreased by 15.8% and 14.5%, respectively.
The findings are crucial for public health strategies, aiming to reduce the impact of epilepsy and guide resource allocation for healthcare systems, and the study calls for high-quality long-term epilepsy surveillance, better access to care, and further exploration of the effects of stigma and cultural differences in seeking medical help.
Article
Global, regional, and national burden of epilepsy, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Valery L Feigin, Theo Vos, Balakrishnan Sukumaran Nair,... Christopher J L Murray
Open Access | The Lancet Public Health
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00302-5
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