title: EPIMART: prospective incidence study of epileptic seizures in newly referred patients in a French Carribean island (Martinique).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify, in the population living in the island of Martinique, persons who had their first epileptic seizure or first came to medical attention because of an epileptic seizure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 1, 1994, and April 30, 1995, we collected all suspected cases of provoked and unprovoked epileptic seizures admitted to the hospitals or addressed to the private neurologists or pediatricians of the island.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred nine cases were collected. Rate of initial diagnosis of provoked and nonprovoked seizures (standardized to the U.S. population): 77.7/100,000, with a bimodal distribution of the cases with age (86 in 0- to 10-year age group and 203 in patients older than 60 years). Sixty-three cases were classified as provoked seizures (incidence, 16.4/100,000). Alcohol consumption, stroke, and cranial trauma were the most frequent causes (30.1, 20.6, and 18.7%, respectively). Two hundred forty-six cases were classified as unprovoked seizures (incidence, 64.1): seizures with a stable condition, 74 cases (I, 19.3); seizures with an evolutive condition, 17 cases (I, 4.5); seizures of unknown etiology, 155 cases (I, 40.4). These figures must be considered as the minimal rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The global incidence rate of newly referred persons with a diagnosis of epileptic seizures in this study is clearly higher than those observed in industrialized countries but lower than those in developing countries. The major risk factors are represented by alcohol consumption, followed by stroke, cranial trauma, and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'épileptologie et d'EEG, Hôpital Cantonal de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland. pierrejallon@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jallon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smadja
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Mab
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008395:Martinique / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution