The global burden and care of epilepsy in Iran

Epilepsy has garnered increased public health focus because patients who suffer from epilepsy experience pronounced and persistent health and socioeconomic disparities despite treatment and care advances. The epidemiology of epilepsy is diverse in different countries and regions.This nationwide population‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted to determine the life time prevalence and health related factors of epilepsy for the first time in Iran through a two‐phase door‐ to‐door survey method. In phase I, a screening for epilepsy was performed on ۶۸,۰۳۵ people. Then in phase II, after the neurological evaluation of participants and reviewing medical records, ۱۱۳۰ subjects with epilepsy was confirmed. The life time prevalence of epilepsy was achieved to be ۱۶.۶ per ۱۰۰۰ people (۹۵% CI ۱۵.۴–۱۷.۸) with the average age onset ۱۹.۱ ± ۲۱.۱ (active prevalence ۹.۵ per ۱۰۰۰ people). Focal seizure (۵۹.۳%), generalized epilepsy (۳۸%) and unknown types of epilepsy (۲.۷%) were detected among participants. The overall life time prevalence of febrile convulsion was ۴.۱ per ۱۰۰۰ people. The frequency of attacks per year and per month were ۳.۰ ± ۱.۶ and ۰.۵ ± ۰.۱, respectively. Age‐specific life time prevalence was highest among the age group of ۱۵–۱۹ years old [۳۲.۷ per ۱۰۰۰ persons (۹۵% CI ۲۹.۱–۳۶.۸)] and it was higher in male (۵۳.۸%) than female (۴۶.۲%) participants. Our results showed that the life time prevalence of epilepsy in Iran is higher than worldwide.