Abstracts

Epidemiological studies of childhood epilepsy are of importance to compare incidence and prevalence rates, age distribution, inheritance, seizure types, epilepsy syndromes and treatment strategies. Few data exist on the frequency and burden of childhood epilepsy in Canada and on the impact of childhood epilepsy in the general population. We assess the point prevalence of childhood epilepsy in Canada., We analyzed data from two cycles of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY, N=17,832 for cycle 2, and N= 27,668 for cycle 2). Each cycle was done over a 2-year period (cycle 2: 1996-1997, cycle 3: 1998-1999). The NLSCY captured, in a longitudinal manner, sociodemographic information, as well as age, sex, education, ethnicity, household income, and labor force status of participants since birth to 11 years old. The presence of epilepsy was probed by the use of specific questions in the survey. In the survey the following specific question was asked of the person most knowledgeable in the household. The answers were refered to conditions that have lasted or are expected to last 6 months or more. Does any of the children in the house have any of the following long-term conditions that have been diagnosed by a health professional? The list of responses included [ldquo]Epilepsy[rdquo] and certain comorbid conditions (Allergies? Bronchitis? Heart condition or disease? Cerebral Palsy? Kidney Condition or disease? Mental handicap?). In addition, a subsequent question identified whether the condition was treated by means of a specific anticonvulsant medication.( Anticonvulsants or anti-epileptic pills?). Prevalence was age-adjusted by using national standard populations at the time of each survey., In cycle 2, 35 of 17,832 subjects were described to have the diagnosis of epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 3.67 per 1,000. In cycle 3, 59 of 27,668 children were described as having epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 3.59 per 1,000. Relatively small sample sizes in the individual cycles precluded the calculation of rates stratifed by age, sex and socioeconomic variables., The overall results are in keeping with those obtained in other developed countries by using different ascertainment methods. We discuss methodologic aspects related to the ascertainment of epilepsy in both surveys, and to the validity and implications of our findings., (Supported by Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Academic Development Fund (JGB).)