[Epidemiological survey on epilepsy among rural populations in five provinces in China].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of epilepsy and its treatment gap in rural areas of China.


METHODS
A door-to-door epidemiological survey on epilepsy was conducted among 55616 rural residents in 5 counties, each in a province (Heilongjiang, Ningxia, Shanxi, Henan, and Jiangsu) selected by random cluster sampling. All people diagnosed or suspected as epileptic during the screening phase were rechecked by neurologists.


RESULTS
A definite diagnosis of epilepsy was made among 387 people with a prevalence rate 7.0 per thousand (age-adjusted rate 6.8 per thousand). The prevalence of active epilepsy was 4.6 per thousand, and the incidence of epilepsy was 28.8/100 000. Of the people with epilepsy, 40.6% had not been treated, 35.4% were treated irregularly. The treatment gap of active epilepsy was 62.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of epilepsy in the rural areas in China was much higher than it was reported previously. About two thirds of the patients with epilepsy has not received regular treatment. A rational intervention strategy should be developed as soon as possible.
Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing 100050, China.
Wenzhi
W
Wang
Jianzhong
J
Wu
Desheng
D
Wang
Guisheng
G
Chen
Taiping
T
Wang
Chenglin
C
Yuan
Bin
B
Yang
Donghai
D
Zhao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population