Centre for Disability Studies, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Epilepsia. 2010 May;51(5):845-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02417.x. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
To examine the prevalence of epilepsy and delivery of epilepsy care in Ireland.
A multiple case ascertainment methodology was employed examining five nationwide data sources. Data were obtained via (1) a nationwide population-based health survey, (2) secondary data analysis of all reimbursements for prescriptions of antiepilepsy medication nationwide from 2002 to 2005, (3) a nationwide survey of primary care community-based physicians, (4) a nationwide survey of specialist care hospital-based neurologists, and (5) secondary data analysis of inpatient discharges from acute hospitals nationwide for persons with a diagnosis of epilepsy between 2000 and 2005.
The findings indicate that nationwide approximately (1) 10 per 1,000 persons (n = 31,000) 18 years and older have self-reported lifetime prevalence of epilepsy, (2) 8.3-9 per 1,000 (approximately 33,000-36,000) persons 5 years and older are being treated for epilepsy using antiepilepsy medication, (3) the typical general practitioner provides care to an average of 13 patients with active epilepsy and epilepsy in remission with treatment, (4) specialist care is provided on a weekly basis to approximately 442 persons with active epilepsy and epilepsy in remission with treatment, and (5) approximately 67 discharges for persons with a primary or secondary diagnosis of epilepsy are reported from acute hospitals weekly.
This study is distinguished as the first nationwide prevalence study of epilepsy in Europe and provides previously unavailable data on this population in Ireland. Moreover, this study illustrates the merits of secondary data analysis of existing sources when access to clinical sources for the purpose of identifying epidemiologic samples is limited.
调查爱尔兰癫痫的流行率和癫痫护理情况。
采用多病例确定方法，对五个全国性数据源进行研究。通过以下方式获取数据：（1）全国性基于人群的健康调查；（2）2002 年至 2005 年全国范围内抗癫痫药物处方报销的二次数据分析；（3）对基层医疗社区医生的全国性调查；（4）对全国范围内专科治疗医院的神经科医生的全国性调查；（5）2000 年至 2005 年全国范围内急性医院癫痫诊断患者住院出院的二次数据分析。
研究结果表明，全国范围内（1）大约每 1000 人中（n=31000）就有 1 人在 18 岁及以上时曾报告患有癫痫终身患病率；（2）每 1000 人中（大约 33000-36000 人）有 8.3-9 人正在使用抗癫痫药物治疗癫痫；（3）典型的全科医生平均为 13 名正在接受治疗的活动期癫痫和缓解期癫痫患者提供治疗；（4）每周向大约 442 名活动期癫痫和缓解期癫痫患者提供专科治疗；（5）每周大约有 67 例因原发性或继发性癫痫诊断而从急性医院出院。
本研究是欧洲首次全国性癫痫流行率研究，为爱尔兰这一人群提供了以前无法获得的数据。此外，本研究说明了在难以获得临床资源以确定流行病学样本的情况下，利用现有资源进行二次数据分析的优势。
