The Epilepsies: The Facts
The Prevalence.
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10% of the population will experience a seizure in their lifetime.
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1 in 26 people will develop a form of epilepsy in their lifetime.
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​5.1 million will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
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3.4 Americans currently live with active epilepsy, including 470,000 children and teenagers.
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No one is immune - the Epilepsies impact infants, children, young adults, seniors, wounded war fighters and veterans, and persons with traumatic brain injury.
The Prevalence.
-
10% of the population will experience a seizure in their lifetime.
-
1 in 26 people will develop a form of epilepsy in their lifetime.
-
​5.1 million will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
-
3.4 Americans currently live with active epilepsy, including 470,000 children and teenagers.
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No one is immune - the Epilepsies impact infants, children, young adults, seniors, wounded war fighters and veterans, and persons with traumatic brain injury.
Can Be Deadly.
So Much MORE Than Seizures.
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The epilepsies can be deadly, with one out of every 1,000 people dying from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
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Deaths are 2x higher for the non-Hispanic Black population.
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​5.1 million will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
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Inadequate or delayed treatment increase a person’s risk of subsequent seizures, brain damage, disability, and death.​
Much MORE Than Seizures
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Delayed recognition of seizures may lead to a long diagnostic odyssey.​5.1 million will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
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The epilepsies are among the most burdensome neurological disorders in the US.
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66% of adults live with 4 or more other chronic conditions.
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Many people with epilepsy experience health problems other than seizures which can impact every body system.
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Public misunderstanding, discrimination, and stigma may limit lives, livelihood and living.[3]
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The total healthcare burden for people living with the epilepsies or seizures is at least $54 billion.
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32% of adults with epilepsy can't work
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53% with uncontrolled seizures live in households earning < $25,000/yr.
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These costs are likely underestimates due to incomplete data on indirect costs like loss of productivity and easy retirement of people with epilepsy.
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Yet only half of a percent of the more than $42 billion the National Institute of Health (NIH) spends on medical research each year, goes to epilepsy.[2]
The Rising Costs
Much MORE Than Seizures
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Delayed recognition of seizures may lead to a long diagnostic odyssey.​5.1 million will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
-
The epilepsies are among the most burdensome neurological disorders in the US.
-
66% of adults live with 4 or more other chronic conditions.
-
Many people with epilepsy experience health problems other than seizures which can impact every body system.
-
Public misunderstanding, discrimination, and stigma may limit lives, livelihood and living.[3]