Cases of drug-resistant epilepsy set to rise, notes GlobalData

Cases of drug-resistant epilepsy are predicted to increase by more than 100,000 by the year 2026, according to data and analytics company, GlobalData.

The forecasted rise from 1,601,859 prevalent cases of active epilepsy (2016 figure) to 1,711,113 (2026 predicted figure) covers the seven major markets — US, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain and Japan.

Most patients who suffer from epilepsy will respond to medication and be able to control their seizures. However, seizure control for drug-resistant epileptic patients can prove more problematic and is an important consideration to improve their quality of life.

“There are several reasons why patients do not achieve full seizure control when taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Frequently, people who are considered to be drug resistant have been misdiagnosed and do not actually have epilepsy; therefore, it is essential that the diagnosis of epilepsy is reviewed when AEDs fail to control seizures,” commented Ana Fernandez Menjivar, healthcare analyst at GlobalData. “However, for patients who have a correct diagnosis of epilepsy, finding the right treatment is crucial. New AEDs for the treatment of all epilepsy syndromes are constantly being developed. Therefore, treatment for refractory cases should be reviewed often to find the appropriate drug combination that will help patients achieve seizure control.”