An epidemiological study of epilepsy in Hong Kong SAR, China.
BACKGROUND
Several specialist clinic-based epidemiology studies suggested low prevalence in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China. Population-based epidemiological data for epilepsy is not available. We performed the first population-based epidemiological survey of epilepsy in this locality.


METHODS
We conducted a territory-wide survey. We randomly selected 9547 households from fixed-line telephone directory. We successfully surveyed 17,783 persons of 5178 households by telephone interview. All positive respondents 685 (3.85%) were invited for clinical validation. 127 subjects were validated by board-certified neurologists.


RESULTS
Seizure disorders were confirmed in 28 subjects. The crude prevalence of active epilepsy and seizure disorder were estimated to be 3.94/1000 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.10-6.74/1000) and 8.49/1000 (95% CI: 5.64-12.27/1000), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of epilepsy in HKSAR is more common than previously thought. The data retrieved is useful for planning and allocation of health resources for patients with seizure disorders.
Fong
Gardian C Y
GC
University Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China. cyfong.medicine@graduate.hku.hk
Kwan
Patrick
P
Hui
Andrew C F
AC
Lui
Colin H T
CH
Fong
Jason K Y
JK
Wong
Virginia
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires