Running head: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF EPILEPSY
1
Epidemiological Analysis of Epilepsy
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR503: Population Health, Epidemiology, & Statistical Principles
Spring, April 2020
, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF EPILEPSY
2
Epidemiological Analysis of Epilepsy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2015 that
approximately 3.4 million people in the United States (US) had active epilepsy (Epilepsy Data
and Statistics, 2019). This chronic health condition effects both adults as well as children. Of the
3.4 million people recorded in 2015, approximately 3 million of those were adults and 470,000
were children (Epilepsy Data and Statistics, 2019). A person can develop epilepsy in many
different ways but often the cause is unknown. Conditions that may contribute to developing
epilepsy include stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and also, infections of the
central nervous system (Epilepsy Fast Facts, 2018). This disease is not preventable altogether,
but the risk of developing epilepsy can be decreased by having a healthy pregnancy, preventing
brain injuries, decreasing chances of developing a stroke or heart disease, being up to date on
vaccinations, and also preventing foodborne infections by washing hands (Frequently Asked
Questions About Epilepsy, 2019). Seizures resulting from epilepsy can sometimes be lessened or
even stopped with medications, surgery, or even by modifying your diet (Frequently Asked
Questions About Epilepsy, 2019).
Background and Significance
Epilepsy is characterized by a chronic disease of the brain with predisposition to unprovoked
seizures (Beghi, 2019). Signs and symptoms of epilepsy consist of having 2 or more unprovoked
seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart (Beghi, 2019). The incidence rate for epilepsy is
61.4 per 100,000 people and is found to be higher in low to middle income countries and also in
men (Beghi, 2019). In a systematic review and meta-analysis done in 2016, the point prevalence
of active epilepsy cases was 6.38 per 1000 and the lifetime prevalence was 7.6 per1,000 persons
(Fiest, et. al., 2016).
1
Epidemiological Analysis of Epilepsy
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR503: Population Health, Epidemiology, & Statistical Principles
Spring, April 2020
, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF EPILEPSY
2
Epidemiological Analysis of Epilepsy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2015 that
approximately 3.4 million people in the United States (US) had active epilepsy (Epilepsy Data
and Statistics, 2019). This chronic health condition effects both adults as well as children. Of the
3.4 million people recorded in 2015, approximately 3 million of those were adults and 470,000
were children (Epilepsy Data and Statistics, 2019). A person can develop epilepsy in many
different ways but often the cause is unknown. Conditions that may contribute to developing
epilepsy include stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and also, infections of the
central nervous system (Epilepsy Fast Facts, 2018). This disease is not preventable altogether,
but the risk of developing epilepsy can be decreased by having a healthy pregnancy, preventing
brain injuries, decreasing chances of developing a stroke or heart disease, being up to date on
vaccinations, and also preventing foodborne infections by washing hands (Frequently Asked
Questions About Epilepsy, 2019). Seizures resulting from epilepsy can sometimes be lessened or
even stopped with medications, surgery, or even by modifying your diet (Frequently Asked
Questions About Epilepsy, 2019).
Background and Significance
Epilepsy is characterized by a chronic disease of the brain with predisposition to unprovoked
seizures (Beghi, 2019). Signs and symptoms of epilepsy consist of having 2 or more unprovoked
seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart (Beghi, 2019). The incidence rate for epilepsy is
61.4 per 100,000 people and is found to be higher in low to middle income countries and also in
men (Beghi, 2019). In a systematic review and meta-analysis done in 2016, the point prevalence
of active epilepsy cases was 6.38 per 1000 and the lifetime prevalence was 7.6 per1,000 persons
(Fiest, et. al., 2016).
