False-Negative Response Rate in Epidemiologic Studies to Define Prevalence Ratios of Epilepsy

Beran, Roy G.; Michelazzi, Jane; Hall, Lorna; Tsimnadis, Peter; Loh, Shuan

doi:10.1159/000110218

Cited by 40 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Using all available medical records may miss from 7% to 27% of new cases (17). Conversely, Beran et al (18) found their population survey to underestimate previously documented prevalence cases by 23% and suggested 20:1,000 as a more accurate (corrected) prevalence ratio of epilepsy in Australia. This remarkably high figure stands out from reported international prevalence ratios.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

National and Regional Prevalence of Self‐reported Epilepsy in Canada

et al. 2004

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Summary:Purpose: To assess the point prevalence of selfdescribed epilepsy in the general population nationally, provincially, and in different groups of interest.Methods: We analyzed data from two national health surveys, the National Population Health Survey (NPHS, N = 49,000) and the Community Health Survey (CHS, N = 130,882). Both surveys captured sociodemographic information, as well as age, sex, education, ethnicity, household income, and labor force status of participants. Epilepsy was ascertained with only one question in both surveys. "Do you have epilepsy diagnosed by a health professional?" (NPHS) and "Do you have epilepsy?" (CHS). Prevalences were age-adjusted by using national standard populations at the time of each survey. Exact 95% confidence intervals were obtained.Results: In the NPHS, 241 of 49,026 subjects described themselves as having been diagnosed with epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 5.2 per 1,000 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.9-5.4]. In the CHS, 835 of 130,822 subjects described themselves as having epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 5.6 per 1,000 (95% CI, 5.1-6.0). Trends in differences in prevalence among some Canadian provinces were observed. Prevalence was statistically significantly higher in groups with the lowest educational level, lowest income, and in those unemployed in the previous year. Prevalence also was higher in nonimmigrants than in immigrants.Conclusions: The overall and group-specific 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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

National and Regional Prevalence of Self‐reported Epilepsy in Canada

et al. 2004

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“…The screening may be problematic for subjects whose only seizures manifest subtly (e.g. absence type or simple partial), for subjects who must recall seizures that only occurred long ago [8], and for subjects who want to conceal their seizure experience [9]. The clinical examination in a field setting is useful for history taking and for identifying underlying neurological disorders (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Door-to-Door Prevalence Survey of Epilepsy in Three Sicilian Municipalities

Rocca

Savettieri²,

Anderson

et al. 2001

Neuroepidemiology

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A door-to-door prevalence survey of epilepsy was conducted in 3 Sicilian municipalities, as of November 1, 1987. In phase 1, the screening by questionnaire of 24,496 eligible subjects (participation = 92%) identified 544 suspected to have epilepsy. In phase 2, neurological evaluation of the 544 subjects yielded 111 with epilepsy. Of the 111 subjects, 103 (93%) had been previously diagnosed, 68 (61%) were taking antiepileptic medication, and 81 (73%) had active epilepsy. Referring to the 81 subjects with active epilepsy, the seizure type was generalized in 60 (74%), partial in 19 (23%) and undetermined in 2 (3%). The prevalence of active epilepsy (per 1,000 population) was 3.3 overall, 3.5 for men and 3.2 for women. The age-specific patterns for active epilepsy differed by sex, with higher figures for men at younger ages (5–19 years) and older ages (50–99 years). The age-specific prevalence figures for active epilepsy were lower than those from previous Italian surveys.

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“…They were worried about the consequences the disease could have in their job situation. These individuals, who were the patients of some of the project neurologists, were not included in the prevalence counts [15] .…”

Section: Operational Problems and Sampling Errormentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Epilepsy in Argentina

Melcon¹,

Kochen

Vergara³

2006

Neuroepidemiology

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Objective: To ascertain the prevalence of epilepsy in Junín, a town of 70,000–80,000 inhabitants from the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Background: Some South American communities have reported extremely high prevalences of epilepsy. We investigated whether Junín would also have a high prevalence.Design/Methods: Systematic sampling was used to select 5,839 households (sampling fraction = 25%). Participating households amounted to 5,648 (97%), with 17,049 persons. A two-phase case-finding strategy was used. Phase 1 was the screening of the 17,049 persons, which was performed by trained but medically unsophisticated interviewers. Phase 2 was the neurological evaluation of the 250 persons who were screened positive for epilepsy. Diagnoses were based on defined diagnostic criteria. Results: As of January 1, 1991 (prevalence day), 106 persons had epilepsy, including 64 (60%) with active epilepsy. Among these, 9 (14%) were epilepsy cases newly diagnosed by survey neurologists, and 50 (78%) were on antiepileptic treatment at the time of the survey. Regarding the same 64 persons, seizures were generalized in 37 (58%) and partial in 24 (38%). Lifetime prevalence of epilepsy was 6.2/1,000 (6.3/1,000, age adjusted to the world standard population). Total point prevalence for active epilepsy was 3.8/1,000 (4.0 for females and 3.5 for males). In addition, prevalence peaked at the ages of 40–59 for females and 0–4 for males. Conclusions: This is one of the first community-based studies of epilepsy in Argentina, and the prevalence results provide new epidemiological data contributing to our understanding of the different prevalence rates found in Latin America.

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False-Negative Response Rate in Epidemiologic Studies to Define Prevalence Ratios of Epilepsy

Abstract: This study has adopted a tested questionnaire, used in a population prevalence study, and distributed it to a sample of people identified as having epilepsy to determine the false-negative response rate for this type of epidemiologic study.

Cited by 40 publications

References 10 publications

National and Regional Prevalence of Self‐reported Epilepsy in Canada

National and Regional Prevalence of Self‐reported Epilepsy in Canada

Door-to-Door Prevalence Survey of Epilepsy in Three Sicilian Municipalities

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Epilepsy in Argentina

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