Epidemiology of First Epileptic Seizures in the Northern Aegean Island of Lesvos, Greece

Anastasia Verentzioti; George Stranjalis; Theodosis Kalamatianos; Anna Siatouni; Damianos E Sakas; Stylianos Gatzonis

doi:10.4081/cp.2017.942

Epidemiology of First Epileptic Seizures in the Northern Aegean Island of Lesvos, Greece

Clin Pract. 2017 Jul 18;7(3):942. doi: 10.4081/cp.2017.942. eCollection 2017 Jun 7.

Authors

Anastasia Verentzioti¹, George Stranjalis^{1

2}, Theodosis Kalamatianos^{1

2}, Anna Siatouni¹, Damianos E Sakas¹, Stylianos Gatzonis¹

Affiliations

¹ 1st Department of Neurosurgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
² Hellenic Centre for Neurosurgical Research Professor Petros S. Kokkalis, Athens, Greece.

Abstract

We aimed at establishing the epidemiologic profile of first epileptic seizures (FES) in the Greek island of Lesvos. During a 1-year period (01/06/2010 to 31/05/2011), cases of FES admitted to the Lesvos General Hospital/addressed by general practitioners/private neurologists were prospectively identified. A total of 45 cases (30 males and 15 females; mean age ± SD of 59.4 ± 28.4 and 58.9 ± 26.8 years, respectively), were collected. The FES incidence rate was 52.1 (95% CI 37-67) per 10⁵ persons. Provoked and unprovoked FES had an incidence of, 16.2 and 35.9 cases per 10⁵ persons, respectively. Following age-adjustment to the 2000 US census population, incidence rates of FES (all types combined) were, 40.5 (95% CI 28-56) per 10⁵ persons. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was the most prevalent etiologic factor. The present findings indicate a low-ranking incidence of FES in the studied population and highlight CVD as a leading causative factor.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Greece; first epileptic seizures; risk factor; treatment.

Grants and funding

Funding: this study was supported by an unrestricted research grant by Sanofi-Aventis, Greece that was provided to the University of Athens Research Grants Account Holder (ELKE).