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Article 7
Article 7
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epilepsy affects 0.5% to 1% of children and is the most frequent abstract
chronic neurologic condition in childhood. Incidence rates appear to be declining in high-
income countries. The validity of epilepsy diagnoses from different data sources varies, and
contemporary population-based incidence studies are needed.
METHODS: The study was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Potential
epilepsy cases were identified through registry linkages and parental questionnaires. Cases
were validated through medical record reviews and telephone interviews of parents.
RESULTS: The study population included 112 744 children aged 3 to 13 years (mean 7.4 years)
at end of registry follow-up (December 31, 2012). Of these, 896 had registry recordings
and/or questionnaire reports of epilepsy. After validation, 587 (66%) met the criteria for
an epilepsy diagnosis. The incidence rate of epilepsy was 144 per 100 000 person-years in
the first year of life and 58 per 100 000 for ages 1 to 10 years. The cumulative incidence of
epilepsy was 0.66% at age 10 years, with 0.62% having active epilepsy. The 309 children
(34%) with erroneous reports of epilepsy from the registry and/or the questionnaires
had mostly been evaluated for nonepileptic paroxysmal events, or they had undergone
electroencephalography examinations because of other developmental or neurocognitive
difficulties.
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 out of 150 children is diagnosed with epilepsy during the
first 10 years of life, with the highest incidence rate observed during infancy. Validation of
epilepsy diagnoses in administrative data and cohort studies is crucial because reported
diagnoses may not meet diagnostic criteria for epilepsy.
aNational
What’s Known on This Subject: Epilepsy is one
Center for Epilepsy, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; bNorwegian Institute of
Public Health, Oslo, Norway; cAkershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; dDepartment of Global Public of the most common chronic neurologic conditions
Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; eMuir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of in children and affects 0.5% to 1% during childhood.
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; and fRoyal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Incidence rates in high-income countries appear
to be declining, but there is a lack of contemporary
Drs Aaberg, Chin, and Surén contributed to the conception and design of the study, the collection
of data, the analysis and interpretation of data, and the drafting of the manuscript; Drs Gunnes, population-based data on incidence and prevalence.
Lossius, Lund Søraas, Bakken, Berntsen, Magnus, and Stoltenberg contributed to the analysis What This Study Adds: In this nationwide child
and interpretation of the data and reviewed and revised the manuscript; Drs Lund Søraas cohort, the incidence rate of epilepsy was 144 per
and Berntsen also contributed to the data collection; and all authors have approved the final
100 000 person-years in infancy and 58 per 100 000
manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
for ages 1 to 10 years. The cumulative incidence was
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-3908 0.66% at age 10 years.
Accepted for publication Feb 7, 2017
Address correspondence to Kari Modalsli Aaberg, MD, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O.
Box 4404, Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. E-mail: kari.modalsli.aaberg@fhi.no
To cite: Aaberg KM, Gunnes N, Bakken IJ, et al. Incidence
PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275). and Prevalence of Childhood Epilepsy: A Nationwide Cohort
Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics Study. Pediatrics. 2017;139(5):e20163908
episodes or other paroxysmal b 1 unprovoked epileptic seizure and >60% probability of recurrent epileptic seizures or having a defined epilepsy
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