Epidemiological Study of Childhood Idiopathic Epilepsy from 1990 to 2021 at Global, Regional, and National Scales

Abstract

Objective

To address the long-term impact of childhood idiopathic epilepsy on health and families, and to provide epidemiological evidence for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies, this study aimed to explore the trends in incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of childhood idiopathic epilepsy globally and across regions from 1990 to 2021.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease database, covering idiopathic epilepsy cases among children aged 0-14 years across 204 countries and regions. The study period was from September 15, 2024, to October 31, 2024. Key indicators included incidence, deaths (all-cause and specific), and DALYs, with trend analysis conducted using the exponential annual percentage change (EAPC). All analyses were stratified by region, country, gender, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Results

In 2021, there were 1,227,191 new cases of childhood idiopathic epilepsy globally (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 786,363-1,734,488). From 1990 to 2021, the total number of cases increased by 26.3% (95% UI, 6.8%-51.2%), with the incidence rising from 55.85 per 100,000 population to 60.998, and an EAPC of 0.2% (95% CI, 0.17-0.23). Deaths decreased by 29.5%, from 25,768 to 18,171, with the death rate dropping from 1.482 per 100,000 to 0.903 and an EAPC of −1.39% (95% CI, −1.48 to −1.3). DALYs decreased by 14.90%, reaching 3,564,497 in 2021 (95% UI, 2,700,944-4,753,410), with an EAPC of −0.94% (95% CI, −1.0 to −0.89). Low SDI regions bore the highest burden, with the highest death rate (1.459 per 100,000 in 2021). Regionally, tropical Latin America saw the fastest growth in incidence (EAPC 0.29), whereas Tajikistan had the highest death rate (2.766 per 100,000), and Taiwan Province of China had the highest DALY rate (99.718 per 100,000).

Conclusion

Childhood idiopathic epilepsy remains a significant global health challenge, with an increasing incidence. Despite a decline in global deaths and DALYs, the disease burden in low SDI regions remains substantial. Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of childhood idiopathic epilepsy is critical for developing effective prevention and management strategies. The findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions in resource-limited settings to bridge the gap in treatment outcomes for childhood epilepsy globally.