Epidemiology Commons^™

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Convulsive Status Epilepticus In Africans With Epilepsy, Symon M. Kariuki, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Ryan G. Wagner, Eddie Chengo, Steven White, Gathoni Kamuyu, Anthony Ngugi, Josemir W. Sander, Brian G.R. Neville, Charles R.J. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Objective: We conducted a community survey to estimate the prevalence and describe the features, risk factors, and consequences of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) among people with active convulsive epilepsy (ACE) identified in a multisite survey in Africa.

Methods: We obtained clinical histories of CSE and neurologic examination data among 1,196 people with ACE identified from a population of 379,166 people in 3 sites: Agincourt, South Africa; Iganga-Mayuge, Uganda; and Kilifi, Kenya. We performed serologic assessment for the presence of antibodies to parasitic infections and HIV and determined adherence to antiepileptic drugs. Consequences of CSE were assessed using a questionnaire. Logistic …

Electroencephalographic Features Of Convulsive Epilepsy In Africa: A Multicentre Study Of Prevalence, Pattern And Associated Factors, Symon M. Kariuki, Steven White, Eddie Chengo, Ryan G. Wagner, Kenneth A. Ae-Ngibise, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Honorati Masanja, Anthony Ngugi, Josemir W. Sander, Brian G. Neville, Charles R. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Objective: We investigated the prevalence and pattern of electroencephalographic (EEG) features of epilepsy and the associated factors in Africans with active convulsive epilepsy (ACE).

Methods: We characterized electroencephalographic features and determined associated factors in a sample of people with ACE in five African sites. Mixed-effects modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with abnormal EEGs.

Results: Recordings were performed on 1426 people of whom 751 (53%) had abnormal EEGs, being an adjusted prevalence of 2.7 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.5–2.9) per 1000. 52% of the abnormal EEG had focal features (75% with temporal lobe involvement). The …

Burden, Causes, And Outcomes Of People With Epilepsy Admitted To A Rural Hospital In Kenya, Symon M. Kariuki, Eddie Chengo, Fredrick Ibinda, Rachael Odhiambo, Anthony Etyang, Anthony Ngugi, Charles R. J. C. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Objective: People with epilepsy (PWE) develop complications and comorbidities often requiring admission to hospital, which adds to the burden on the health system, particularly in low-income countries. We determined the incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), risk factors, and causes of admissions in PWE. We also examined the predictors of prolonged hospital stay and death using data from linked clinical and demographic surveillance system.

Methods: We studied children and adults admitted to a Kenyan rural hospital, between January 2003 and December 2011, with a diagnosis of epilepsy. Poisson regression was used to compute incidence and rate ratios, logistic regression to determine …

Prevalence And Risk Factors For Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Rural Northeast South Africa, Ryan G. Wagner, Anthony Ngugi, Rhian Twine, Christian Bottomley, Gathoni Kamuyu, F Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Myles D. Connor, Mark A. Collinson, Kathleen Kahn, Stephen Tollman, Charles R. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Rationale: Epilepsy is among the most common neurological disorders worldwide. However,there are few large, population-based studies of the prevalence and risk factors for epilepsy in southern Africa.

Methods: From August 2008 to February 2009, as part of a multi-site study, we undertook a three-stage, population-based study, embedded within the Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system, to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors of active convulsiveepilepsy (ACE) in a rural South African population.

Results: The crude prevalence of ACE, after adjusting for non-response and the sensitivity of the screening method, was 7.0/1,000 individuals (95%CI 6.4—7.6) with significant geographic hetero-geneity across …