An initial prevalence investigation of convulsive epilepsy in rural areas of Tibet Autonomous Region / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To find out the prevalence rate of epilepsy,its treatment gap and quality of life of epilepsy patients in rural areas of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).Methods Cluster sampling was adopted to conduct a door-to-door epidemiological survey among 14 822 rural population in Gangka town, Zhaxigang and Quzika village located in Medrogongka and Markham counties of TAR.The quality of life was measured by the 31-item quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-31).Results Thirty-seven epilepsy patients were diagnosed as convulsive epileptic patients,and the prevalence was 0.25%.Thirty-five patients (94.59%) were diagnosed as active epilepsy,with a prevalence rate of 0.24%.Only one patient took standard Western Medicine within a week before the survey,and the treatment gap of the active epilepsy was 97.1%.The average QOLIE-31 total score was 42.15?17.63,and the lowest subcomponent score was 22.59?20.31 for seizure worry with the highest subcomponent score 85.83?18.59 for medication effects. Age,occupation,education,economic status,age at epilepsy onset and seizure frequency were significantly correlated with low QOLIE-31 scores (P