a marker of geographical and social inequalities!

A study published on April 2 by Public Health France presents for the first time in 20 years estimates of the prevalence of treated epilepsy by region and department in France. The epidemiology of this neurological disease is little studied and in particular its social and territorial variability. “ The prevalence ofepilepsyepilepsy treated, estimated from the National Health Data System, stood at 10.2 per 1,000 inhabitants on 1^er January 2020 in France; it is similar to the prevalences observed in the United States and England », communicates the national public health agency.

Note that the prevalence of epilepsy increases with advancing age and that it varies according to sex (the increase is earlier in men than in women).

Strong social and territorial inequalities

The results of the study highlight differences in the prevalence of epilepsy depending on the territory. Rates are higher along the northeast/southwest diagonal, in the northern departments, as well as in certain overseas departments such as Réunion. These inequalities could be explained by economic precariousness and a frequency of comorbiditiescomorbidities cardiovascular – which can cause epilepsy – higher in these areas.

“ Prevalence increases steadily with social disadvantage », Adds the press release, which notes a notable difference of 42% between the most disadvantaged population (10.1 cases per 1,000 inhabitants) and the least disadvantaged (7.1 cases per 1,000 inhabitants). This difference could partly be explained by exposure to pollution and toxic substances during pregnancypregnancy and early childhood. On the other hand, certain factors associated with epilepsy (stigma, side effects of treatment, etc.) could lead to greater social insecurity.