Epidemiology of Epilepsies in Developed Countries

Abstract

Short DescriptionEpidemiological investigations provide important insights into the distribution of and burden imposed by disease. As such, these data should be pivotal in aiding the understanding of disease and thus improving treatment. In particular, epidemiological data can drive the appropriate delivery of health services. Unfortunately, this is an ideal rarely matched in practice.The collection of epidemiological data in the epilepsies poses certain challenges. Some are specific to epilepsies such as definition, the complex range of etiologies, and the remitting nature of the condition. Others are common to many disease areas, such as ensuring adequate representation through true population survey rather than service-specific populations.This chapter focuses on developed countries, in themselves a group with definitional challenges. These will be considered to reflect a group of countries linked by a high level of per capita income and industrialization. The explo ...