Epilepsy Talk
The Stats and Facts of Epilepsy | December 14, 2009
I call epilepsy a “stealth” disease, but it’s difficult to imagine how so few people can know about a disease that affects so many.
For example, few people know:
* Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson’s Disease combined.
* In America, Epilepsy is as common as Breast Cancer, and takes as many lives.
*Almost 500 new cases of Epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States.
* Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide.
* One in 100 people will develop Epilepsy.
* One in 10 people will suffer a seizure in their lifetime.
* This year another 200,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Epilepsy.
* Each year over 125,000 to 150,000 are newly diagnosed with Epilepsy.
* 30% of those diagnosed are children.
* Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke, head injury, and many other factors.
* For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, Epilepsy will be a long-term consequence.
* In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with Epilepsy, the cause is unknown.
* In over 30% of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment.
* Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death.
* Up to 50,000 Americans die each year from seizures and related causes.
* The mortality rate among people with Epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population.
* Risk of sudden death among those with Epilepsy is twenty-four times greater.
* Epilepsy results in an estimated annual cost of $15.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production.
* Epilepsy gets very little funding. If you take Autism, Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s per patient: They get $200-$400 per person in research. Epilepsy research gets about $35 per patient.
* St Valentine is the patron saint of people with epilepsy!
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/index.htm
http://www.newsweek.com/id/193586
http://www.cureepilepsy.org/about/epilepsy_facts.asp
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/statistics.cfm
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110468/epilepsy’s_percent.htm
http://www.efnj.com/content/info/statistics.html
http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/AboutEpilepsy/Whatisepilepsy/Epilepsy-didyouknow
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Hi Phylis, you say that sudden death is about 2-3 times higher than the population.
Is that because of the depression, anxiety and panic attacks?
As you know I have had several episodes of depression. I am in one now. It is starting up again. I hope it does not last long this time. I hate them. Ruth
Comment by Ruth Brown — December 21, 2009 @ 9:15 AMDec +00:00Dec
Hi Phylis, I am out of my depression for now. I think the exercise is helping to lift my spirits. I use to go for 4 mile walks 3 times a day. I was not in a depressiion then.
I notice that you did not answer my comment. Am I on the wrong track here.
I would like to know more about the sudden death and what causes it. Is there a way to avoid it?
Ruth
Comment by Ruth Brown — January 8, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJan +00:00Jan
Glad to hear you’re out of your depression and, literally, on your feet again.
I looked up Sudden Unexpected Death and discovered that it did NOT happen while a seizure was taking place. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1187111-overview
According to this article: “SUDEP has been reported in patients with epilepsy since the late 1800s and may account for 8-17% of deaths in this population.
SUDEP is defined as sudden, unexpected, nontraumatic, nondrowning death in an individual with epilepsy, witnessed or unwitnessed, in which postmortem examination does not reveal an anatomical or toxicological cause for the death.
In an attempt to standardize the definition of this phenomenon, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Burroughs-Wellcome developed criteria for SUDEP in 1993. These criteria are now used in most SUDEP studies and are as follows:
The patient has epilepsy, which is defined as recurrent unprovoked seizures.
The patient died unexpectedly while in a reasonable state of health.
The death occurred suddenly (ie, within minutes).
The death occurred during normal and benign circumstances.
An obvious medical cause of death could not be determined at autopsy.
The death was not the direct result of a seizure or status epilepticus.”
So SUDEP really does seem to sudenly come out from nowhere. Pretty scary!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 8, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJan +00:00Jan
Thank you Phylis for the explanation. It is reassuring that it happens in only 8-17% of people with epilepsy.
One case made the news years ago. The husband woke up and his epileptic wife had died. He called 911 and then they tried to prove that he had murdered his wife.
Like you said, there is no known reason for SUPED. They stopped harassing him.
Ruth
Comment by Ruth Brown — January 8, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJan +00:00Jan
Oh how horrid. There are so many misinformed (STUPID) people in this wold. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he lost his wife!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 8, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJan +00:00Jan
Yes, Phylis, when it comes to epilepsy, it is sad. There are so many stupid people. Ruth
Comment by Ruth Brown — January 9, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJan +00:00Jan
Recently in an article for patients that deal w/ taking seizure medication that depression can be common. They tested the patients and noted that their folic acid was low. We are often told to watch our B complex but the article stresses folic acid.
My Epileptologist checked my folic acid level and noted it was very low and increased to 2 gm a day as if I was pregnant. He told me the medication has definitely efficated my intake. It also can effect patients depressive ways at times too. I thought that was interesting.
Comment by Toni Robison — January 8, 2011 @ 9:15 PMJan +00:00Jan
There you go Toni with another brilliant observation that teaches us all.
What I read was 400 mcg (which I think with my lousy math is 4 GRAMS)of Folic Acid is recommended by doctors since it is destroyed by many anti-epilepsy drugs and is needed for normal neurological function. It sometimes reduces seizure frequency and it often improves mood, intellectual speed, alertness, concentration, self confidence, independence and sociability.
What do you think about the amount Toni?
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 9, 2011 @ 9:15 AMJan +00:00Jan
[...] could tell them our own story or Cheers for Charlie! Give them copies of the article The Stats and Facts of Epilepsy and/or Epilepsy Myths [...]
Pingback by Epilepsy Awareness Brainstorm! « Epilepsy Talk — March 7, 2011 @ 9:15 PMMar +00:00Mar
Thank you for providing such vital information!
Comment by Tracy L. Karol — November 30, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov