Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Epilepsy is characterised as a tendency to have recurrent seizures.
Estimates of the number of people with epilepsy in the UK vary as do estimates of the number of new cases of epilepsy each year. It is thought the number of people with epilepsy is rising both due to the increasing population of the UK and the increasing population of older people in whom epilepsy can develop as a result of stroke, brain diseases or other brain injury.
This study seeks to estimate the number of people in the UK with a diagnosis of epilepsy and currently taking anti-epileptic medication.
It also seeks to calculate the number of people who are newly diagnosed with epilepsy each year.
This research will also explore if there are differences in the number of people with epilepsy and number of new cases of epilepsy each year in areas of higher and lower social deprivation.
The overall objective is to update current estimates for UK incidence and prevalence of epilepsy using the most current available data in the CPRD. The updated estimates will include stratification into relevant administrative and health geographies as well as relevant age-sex distributions. The estimates will also be stratified by decile of social deprivation using Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data.
This study will attempt to ascertain all available cases of epilepsy using a sample of patient information submitted to the CPRD from participating General Practice facilities throughout the UK. Cases will be determined using GP Read Codes queried from the medical record along with a current prescription for an anti-epileptic drug from the CPRD product codes. The overall annual number of patients registered in the CPRD will also be included and used as a denominator for incidence and prevalence calculations.
Annual incidence of epilepsy by year of age and gender in the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Point prevalence of epilepsy by year of age and gender in the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Prevalence of epilepsy by 0-18 years, 19 65 years and 66 years and older and gender by practice-level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Annual incidence of epilepsy by 0-18 years, 19 65 years and 66 years and older and gender by practice-level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Prevalence of epilepsy by 0-18 years, 19 65 years and 66 years and older and gender by patient postcode level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile within England
Incidence of epilepsy by 0-18 years, 19 65 years and 66 years and older and gender by patient postcode level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile within England
Markus Reuber - Chief Investigator - University of Sheffield
Thamina Anjuman - Corresponding Applicant - Not from an Organisation
- Collaborator -
Aidan Neligan - Collaborator - Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Eleanor Yelland - Collaborator - CPRD
Jon Dickson - Collaborator - University of Sheffield
Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation