Characteristics of out-patients with epilepsy and patterns of antiepileptic drug utilisation in neurology department at tertiary hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

Trial description: This is an observational, hospital-based cross-sectional epidemiology study conducted at various tertiary hospitals across China. The patients attending general neurologists as well as epileptologists of the epilepsy clinics will be consecutively invited for this study. Around 1600 eligible patients with confirmed epilepsy will be included and evaluated during the study, after obtaining the signed written informed consent. All the patients will have only one clinic visit and the following data will be collected during the visit: details of medical history, demography, type(s) of seizure and epilepsy according to the International League against Epilepsy classification [Commissions, 1981, Commissions, 1989], electroclinical syndrome[Berg AT, 2010], seizure frequency, Epilepsy etiologies, comorbidities, details of current and previous AED regimen (names of drug, dose, mono or poly and dosages),the adverse effects which may have led to the drug withdrawal (if any), the reason of drug adjustment and the treatment plan. Inclusion criteria• Male and female subjects with any age• Confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy by review of medical records(clinical, EEG and/or neuroimaging findings) according to the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures (1981)• Previously untreated for epilepsy, previously treated for epilepsy, or currently is taking epilepsy medication• A written informed consent must be obtained prior to any study related proceduresExclusion criteria• Subject has a current or previous diagnosis of pseudoseizures or other non-epileptic ictal events that could be confused with seizures• In the opinion of the investigator the patients who are not likely to be reliable , cooperative and compliant with study procedures