Abstracts

Rationale: To describe the demographics, prevalence, and incidence of Veterans with epilepsy in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11).Methods: Veterans with epilepsy were identified based on encounter diagnosis codes and antiepileptic drug prescriptions, for all Veterans within the VHA treated during FY11, 10/1/2010-9/30/2011. Demographic information collected included age, gender, and OEF/OIF/OND (Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn) status. Incidences were determined by evaluating two years of data and seeing whether inclusion criteria were present in the first year. Diagnoses codes for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also noted.Results: During FY11, 87,377 Veterans with epilepsy were managed within the VHA. The prevalence rate was 15.5 per 1,000, and incidence was 148.2 per 100,000. Incidence rates were highest in the youngest age group (less than 46 years old). Female incidence rates were higher in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans than Non-OEF/OIF/OND. The percentages of co-morbid TBI and PTSD for Veterans with epilepsy were 15.8% and 24.1%, respectively. For OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, these percentages increased to 52.6% and 70.4%, respectively.Conclusions: Veterans have high rates of epilepsy diagnoses. More young and female veterans are being diagnosed with epilepsy. OEF/OIF/OND Veterans are at particularly high risk of TBI, PTSD, and seizure diagnoses. Appropriately diagnosing and treating Veterans with these co-morbidities is notoriously difficult and involve a multidisciplinary approach to include both epilepsy and psychology specialists.