Abstracts

Rationale: MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region extends from Morocco to Iran; in MENA , studies on epilepsy are lacking ; only 2 surveys examined epidemiology and neurology training programs in this vast geographic area. Objective: 1) Describe the available data on Epilepsy in the Mena 2) compare those findings to similar data from neighboring ,advanced countries and 3) give recommendations on future research on epilepsy in MENA. Methods: This study was made possible through: 1) a literature search to identify articles published from 1980 to December 2017 on epidemiology, causes, treatment modalities, epilepsy research, on epilepsy in Mena; and 2) additional data from surveys, emails and phone interviews of leading neurologists in the area. Results: More than 2 million people with epilepsy (PWE) live in MENA, with a population estimated at 355 million; number of neurologists varies from 0.05/100.000 to 2,3/100.000. Most neurologists are based in large cities, with significant shortages of trained healthcare physicians, especially at primary care level (lack of knowledge about epilepsy ). Nine countries out of 20 have prevalence data on epilepsy (from 0.9/1000 in Sudan to 11/1000 in Morocco). Epilepsy incidence is reported only from 3 countries. Five countries out of 20 have data on the causes of epilepsy: high proportion of epilepsies of genetic origin (high consanguinity 30 to 54%). Neurocysticercosis in eastern part of the MENA and onchocerciasis in Sudan (nodding syndrome) are also important causes of epilepsy .Use of AEDs are reported from 5 countries. Surgical treatment of epilepsy is uncommon in MENA. Six countries provide data on traditional practice in epilepsy. Finally there is only one recent indexed epilepsy journal generated in MENA (Nameej, North African and Middle East Epilepsy journal, from Morocco). Conclusions: There is still an insufficient number of neurologists in the MENA, and an urgent need for further epilepsy research, particularly epidemiological research, in order to have an accurate idea about the burden of epilepsy in this vast region. Funding: No funding