Seizure epidemiology and demographics

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:  Shakiba Hassanzadeh, MD[2]

## Overview

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It is estimated that 11% of the population experience a seizure in their life compared to the estimation of 3% for epilepsy. In the US, seizure is estimated to account for 1 million or 1% of emergency department (ED) visits annually. The incidence of acute symptomatic seizures is estimated to be 39 cases per 100,000 individuals in the US. Seizures are more common among males and people of African descent.

## Epidemiology and Demographics

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### Incidence

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* In the United States, the incidence of acute symptomatic seizures is estimated to be 39 cases per 100,000 individuals.[1]
* It is estimated that 11% of the population experience a seizure in their life compared to the estimation of 3% for epilepsy.[2][3]

### Prevalence

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* In the US, the prevalence of seizure is estimated to be 1 million or 1% of emergency department (ED) visits annually.[4]

### Case-fatality rate/Mortality rate

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* Status epilepticus occurs in about 6%-7% of the patients with seizure in the ED.[5][6][7]
* In the United States, the incidence of status epilepticus was estimated between 126,000 to 195,000 patients per year with 22,200 to 42,000 deaths per year.[8]
* The overall mortality rate of status epilepticus is approximately 22% (3% in pediatric patients to 26% in adults).[8]

### Age

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* Acute symptomatic seizures have the highest incidence among infants and small children, followed by those older than 75, and the lowest incidence among those between 25 to 34 years.[4]
* Infants and children aged 1 to 5 years (mostly due to febrile seizure) followed by adults aged 41 to 50 years make up the most ED visits for seizure.[4]

### Race

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* Individuals of the African American race are more likely to have seizure-related ED visits compared to Whites.[4]

### Gender

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* Males are more affected by seizures than females.[4][1]
* The male to female ratio of a seizure-related ED visit is approximately 1.4 to 1.[4]
* The male to female ratio of acute symptomatic seizures on a population level (not in the ED setting) is approximately 1.85 to 1 (lifetime risk of 5.0% in males and 2.7% in females).[1]

## References

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Annegers JF, Hauser WA, Lee JR, Rocca WA (1995). "Incidence of acute symptomatic seizures in Rochester, Minnesota, 1935-1984". Epilepsia. 36 (4): 327–33. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1995.tb01005.x. PMID 7607110.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ↑ Bethune P, Gordon K, Dooley J, Camfield C, Camfield P (1993). "Which child will have a febrile seizure?". Am J Dis Child. 147 (1): 35–9. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1993.02160250037013. PMID 7678187.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ↑ Hauser WA, Annegers JF, Rocca WA (1996). "Descriptive epidemiology of epilepsy: contributions of population-based studies from Rochester, Minnesota". Mayo Clin Proc. 71 (6): 576–86. doi:10.4065/71.6.576. PMID 8642887.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Pallin DJ, Goldstein JN, Moussally JS, Pelletier AJ, Green AR, Camargo CA (2008). "Seizure visits in US emergency departments: epidemiology and potential disparities in care". Int J Emerg Med. 1 (2): 97–105. doi:10.1007/s12245-008-0024-4. PMC 2657249. PMID 19384659.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
5. ↑ Huff JS, Morris DL, Kothari RU, Gibbs MA, Emergency Medicine Seizure Study Group (2001). "Emergency department management of patients with seizures: a multicenter study". Acad Emerg Med. 8 (6): 622–8. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.2001.tb00175.x. PMID 11388937.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ↑ Krumholz A, Grufferman S, Orr ST, Stern BJ (1989). "Seizures and seizure care in an emergency department". Epilepsia. 30 (2): 175–81. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1989.tb05451.x. PMID 2924743.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
7. ↑ Brinar V, Bozicević D, Zurak N, Gubarev N, Djaković V (1991). "Epileptic seizures as a symptom of various neurological diseases". Neurol Croat. 40 (2): 93–101. PMID 1883923.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 DeLorenzo RJ, Hauser WA, Towne AR, Boggs JG, Pellock JM, Penberthy L; et al. (1996). "A prospective, population-based epidemiologic study of status epilepticus in Richmond, Virginia". Neurology. 46 (4): 1029–35. doi:10.1212/wnl.46.4.1029. PMID 8780085.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)