Epilepsy estimates available for the first time for every state show that the disorder is widespread, with at least 3.4 million people affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC data also show that the number of people with epilepsy is increasing, probably as a result of population growth. The number of affected adults went from 2.3 million in 2010 to 3 million in 2015, and the number of children with epilepsy rose from 450,000 in 2007 to 470,000 in 2015, CDC investigators reported (MMWR. 2017 Aug 11;66[31]:821-5).
“Millions of Americans are impacted by epilepsy, and unfortunately, this study shows cases are on the rise,” CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald said in a separate statement. “Proper diagnosis is key to finding an effective treatment – and at CDC we are committed to researching, testing, and sharing strategies that will improve the lives of people with epilepsy.”
The CDC investigators based their estimates for children under age 18 years on data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health; estimates for those age 18 and over are based on data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey.