title: Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in Italy based on a nationwide database.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in Italy using a national database of general practitioners (GPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Health Search CSD Longitudinal Patient Database (HSD) has been established in 1998 by the Italian College of GPs. Participants were 700 GPs, representing a population of 912,458. For each patient, information on age and sex, EEG, CT scan, and MRI was included. Prevalent cases with a diagnosis of 'epilepsy' (ICD9CM: 345*) were selected in the 2011 population. Incident cases of epilepsy were identified in 2011 by excluding patients diagnosed for epilepsy and convulsions and those with EEG, CT scan, MRI prescribed for epilepsy and/or convulsions in the previous years. Crude and standardized (Italian population) prevalence and incidence were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crude prevalence of epilepsy was 7.9 per 1,000 (men 8.1; women 7.7). The highest prevalence was in patients <25 years and ≥75 years. The incidence of epilepsy was 33.5 per 100,000 (women 35.3; men 31.5). The highest incidence was in women <25 years and in men 75 years or older.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in this study were similar to those of other industrialized countries. HSD appears as a reliable data source for the surveillance of epilepsy in Italy.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giussani
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cricelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzoleni
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cricelli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasqua
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pecchioli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lapi
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beghi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult