title: National General Practice Study of Epilepsy: recurrence after a first seizure.
abstract: In the National General Practice Study of Epilepsy 564 patients classified as having definite seizures have been followed up for 2-4 years. 67% (95% confidence interval 63-71%) had a recurrence within 12 months of the first seizure, and 78% (74-81%) had a recurrence within 36 months. Seizures associated with a neurological deficit presumed present at birth had a high rate of recurrence (100% by 12 months), whereas seizures that occurred within 3 months of an acute insult to the brain, such as head injury or stroke, or in the context of an acute precipitant such as alcohol, carried a much lower risk of recurrence (40% [29-51%] by 12 months). Other factors affecting the risk of recurrence were age-the highest risk being for patients under the age of 16 (83% [77-89%] by 36 months) or over the age of 59 (83% [76-90%] by 36 months-and type of first seizure-the risk of recurrence being much higher for patients with simple partial or complex partial seizures (94% [90-99%] by 36 months) than for those with generalised tonic clonic seizures (72% [67-77%] by 36 months).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shorvon
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015982:Bias; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology