Epilepsy in the elderly: incidence, social function, and disability

Abstract

The incidence of epilepsy in persons greater than or equal to 60 years was studied during a 5-year period in an urban area. The incidence of patients with definite epilepsy was 77 new cases per year per 100,000 citizens greater than 60 years of age, with a significant excess of male patients. Generalized and partial seizures each accounted for about half of the seizures, but the majority of patients experienced generalization at least once. Of 163 patients with onset of epilepsy during the study period, 152 could manage in their own home, but 97 of these required permanent home help. Marital status, dementia, and focal neurological signs, but not age, influenced patients' social function. A group of patients of the same age with established epilepsy before the study period managed as well or even better, indicating that epilepsy did not significantly influence social function. For both groups, too many patients as compared with the population at risk were economically inactive at the time of admission. Judging from patients' previous occupation, it seems as if patients predominantly came from the lower social classes, indicating that occupational risks may be of ethiological importance.