Epilepsy: data

Mortality

Epilepsy or status epilepticus was certified as the underlying cause in 96 deaths in Scotland in 2010 (table 1). Chart 1 (view chart)
 Close  shows the number of epilepsy deaths in Scotland between 1974 and 2010. Although the relatively small numbers of deaths mean that there is considerable year to year fluctuation, there has been an appreciable increase in deaths over this period, particularly among men.

Table 1: Deaths from epilepsy or status epilepticus, Scotland 2010

(1) Based on ICD10 code G40; excludes status epilepticus; (2) A condition characterised by continuous and uncontrolled seizures; statistics based on ICD10 G41; Source: National Records of Scotland (formerly General Register Office for Scotland) Vital Events Reference Tables (Table 6.4)

Hospital discharge data

Data on inpatient and daycase discharges are available from the SMR01 database. Chart 2 (view chart)
 Close  shows a downward trend in the number of emergency admissions in Scotland between 1998 and 2010 where epilepsy was the principal diagnosis.

Practice Team Information

The Practice Team Information (PTI) scheme provides information on the number of people who consult GP practices in Scotland and the reasons for consultations. In 2010/2011 there were an estimated 45,500 consultations for epilepsy with a GP or practice nurse in Scotland. In 2010/11 an estimated 27,620 patients (0.5% of those registered) consulted a GP or practice nurse at least once because of epilepsy. Note that these figures have been revised by the PTI programme; more details are available on ISD's PTI website. The total number of people consulting for epilepsy includes both people consulting for the first time and those with long-standing epilepsy. It does not include people with epilepsy who did not consult during the year or who consulted only with other health conditions. Data on the patterns of consultations by age and sex and trends over time are available under the epilepsy heading on ISD's PTI website.

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data

As part of the 2004 new General Medical Services (nGMS) contract UK general practices are provided with incentives to record the number of people who are aged 18 and over, registered with their practice and known to have epilepsy. These data provide only total numbers and do not include any breakdown by age or sex. In 2010/11 0.74% of the Scottish population were included on general practice epilepsy registers (based on practices with nGMS contracts and reportable data). The lowest prevalence (0.62%) was in Lothian and the highest (0.83%) in Western Isles. Greater Glasgow and Clyde had the third highest prevalence (0.79%) and by far the largest number of people with epilepsy of any NHS Board in Scotland. Further details are available on ISD's Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) website in the sections on prevalence data for 2010/11.