Global, regional, and national burden and trends of idiopathic epilepsy among children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021: insights from the global burden of disease study 2021

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is a severe chronic disease that poses a serious threat to the life and health of patients. Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, we analyzed the global, regional, and national burdens and trends of IE in children and adolescents (aged 0-19 years). METHODS: Utilizing the GBD 2021 data, we analyzed the prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of IE across 204 countries and regions globally. The regions were stratified according to the Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Time trends were assessed using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). RESULTS: Over a 32-year period, global IE prevalence and incidence cases increased by 19% and 29%, while DALYs and death cases declined by 9% and 20%, respectively. Prevalence, DALYs, and death rates decreased annually, except for incidence rates, which rose. Low-middle SDI regions showed the highest disease burden, while high SDI regions experienced the greatest increase in prevalence rates. By age, the 10-19 age group had the highest growth in prevalence and incidence rates, while the <5 age group showed the largest decline in DALYs and death rates. CONCLUSION: The total number of IE cases increased, while DALYs and mortality rates decreased, reflecting the improvement of global medical interventions. The disease burden remains high in low SDI regions, and it is necessary to optimize prevention and control strategies according to the characteristics of different regions, ages, and genders.