title: Prevalence of epilepsy among people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epilepsy is more common in people with intellectual disabilities than in the general population. However, reported prevalence rates vary widely between studies. This systematic review aimed to provide a summary of prevalence studies and estimates of prevalence based on meta-analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were identified via electronic searches using Medline, Cinahl and PsycINFO and cross-citations. Information extracted from studies was tabulated. Prevalence rate estimates were pooled using random effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 studies were included in the tabulation and 46 studies were included in meta-analyses. In general samples of people with intellectual disabilities, the pooled estimate from 38 studies was 22.2% (95% CI 19.6-25.1). Prevalence increased with increasing level of intellectual disability. For samples of people with Down syndrome, the pooled estimate from data in 13 studies was 12.4% (95% CI 9.1-16.7), decreasing to 10.3% (95% CI 8.4-12.6) following removal of two studies focusing on older people. Prevalence increased with age in people with Down syndrome and was particularly prevalent in those with Alzheimer's/dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epilepsy is highly prevalent in people with intellectual disabilities. Services must be equipped with the skills and information needed to manage this condition.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, LA1 4YT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.m.robertson@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, LA1 4YT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, LA1 4YT, United Kingdom; Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, LA1 4YT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baines
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Down syndrome; Epilepsy; Intellectual disabilities; Prevalence