But both figures are only assumptions and reportedly no special studies have been carried out. Based on official data, the numbers of registered epilepsy in Bulgaria patients are only half of those in developed countries. In Hungary, the prevalence of epilepsy is reportedly 5/1000. Some assumptive prevalence figures from Hungary (Halasz, 1995) and Bulgaria (Halatchev, 2000) have been published. A classical study in Warsaw has shown the PR of active epilepsy to be 7.8/1000 (Zielinski, 1974), which is essentially similar to that in developed countries. Epidemiological data about epilepsy from CEE is scarce and results are controversial (Jallon, 1997, Halatchev, 2000). In recent years, several studies have disclosed significant difference in estimates of overall public health and mortality between populations in western Europe and those in central and eastern Europe (CEE) (Bobak and Marmot, 1996, Carlson, 1998). The wide variability in the rates is partially caused by geographical and medico-social differences (Sander and Shorvon, 1996, ILAE Commission Report, 1996, Berg et al., 1996, Jallon, 1997) however, a considerable part of the variation may be explained by different case-finding techniques and dissimilar inclusion criteria (Sander and Shorvon, 1996, Hauser, 1997). The PR tends to be lower in developed countries, 4.3–7.5/1000 and remarkably higher in developing countries, 17–57/1000 (Sander and Shorvon, 1996, Hauser, 1997, Jallon, 1997). The reported point prevalence rate (PR) of active epilepsy varies considerably in different populations ranging from 1.5/1000 to 57/1000. The predominance of localization-related syndromes and partial seizures is due to the age distribution of the study. Prevalence of active epilepsy and other prevalence-related characteristics in the adult population of Tartu was comparable to those reported from the developed countries. Some 22% of all subjects did not take antiepileptic medication. Risk factors for epilepsy were identified in 39.6% cases. The largest syndromic categories were localization-related symptomatic and cryptogenic epilepsies. Of the seizure types, partial seizures had highest rates, over half were secondarily generalized seizures. The age-specific rates were constant in age groups 30–69 years and declined in the oldest age groups. Both, crude and age-adjusted (to the 1970 US population) prevalence rates were 5. Special attention was paid to the extensive adoption of definitions and criteria proposed by ILAE guidelines for epidemiologic studies. Review of all databases and lists related to epilepsy in Tartu supplemented by re-examination of patients to identify all persons with active epilepsy aged ≥20 years on January 1, 1997. The aim of this study was to estimate the main prevalence-related characteristics of active epilepsy in an adult population in Estonia. Epidemiological data about epilepsy from central and eastern Europe is scarce and results are controversial.
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