Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26697856›Full record

ArticlePloS one2015

Differing Methods and Definitions Influence DALY estimates: Using Population-Based Data to Calculate the Burden of Convulsive Epilepsy in Rural South Africa.

Ryan G Wagner, Fredrick Ibinda, Stephen Tollman, Lars Lindholm, Charles R Newton, Melanie Y Bertram

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  14. Management of acute seizures in children: A review with special consideration of care in resource-limited settings.African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence · 2017
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ryan G WagnerStudies of the Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Demographic Surveillance Systems (SEEDS), INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana.
Fredrick IbindaStudies of the Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Demographic Surveillance Systems (SEEDS), INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana.
Stephen TollmanStudies of the Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Demographic Surveillance Systems (SEEDS), INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana.
Lars LindholmEpidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health & Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Charles R NewtonStudies of the Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Demographic Surveillance Systems (SEEDS), INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana.
Melanie Y BertramWorld Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Funding

Wellcome Trust 058893/Z/99/AWellcome Trust 069683/Z/02/ZWellcome Trust 083744Wellcome Trust 085477/Z/08/ZWellcome Trust 092654World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe disability adjusted life year (DALY) is a composite measure of disease burden that includes both morbidity and mortality, and is relevant to conditions such as epilepsy that can limit productive functioning. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study introduced a number of new methods and definitions, including a prevalence-based approach and revised disability weights to calculate morbidity and new standard life expectancies to calculate premature mortality. We used these approaches, and local, population-based data, to estimate the burden of convulsive epilepsy in rural South Africa. METHODS &

findingsComprehensive prevalence, incidence and mortality data on convulsive epilepsy were collected within the Agincourt sub-district in rural northeastern South Africa between 2008 and 2012. We estimated DALYs using both prevalence- and incidence-based approaches for calculating years of life lived with disability. Additionally, we explored how changing the disease model by varying the disability weights influenced DALY estimates. Using the prevalence-based approach, convulsive epilepsy in Agincourt resulted in 332 DALYs (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 216-455) and 4.1 DALYs per 1,000 individuals (95%UI: 2.7-5.7) annually. Of this, 26% was due to morbidity while 74% was due to premature mortality. DALYs increased by 10% when using the incidence-based method. Varying the disability weight from 0.072 (treated epilepsy, seizure free) to 0.657 (severe epilepsy) caused years lived with disability to increase from 18 (95%UI: 16-19) to 161 (95%UI: 143-170).

conclusionsDALY estimates are influenced by both the methods applied and population parameters used in the calculation. Irrespective of method, a significant burden of epilepsy is due to premature mortality in rural South Africa, with a lower burden than rural Kenya. Researchers and national policymakers should carefully interrogate the methods and data used to calculate DALYs as this will influence policy priorities and resource allocation.

Indexed as

Cost of IllnessAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolEpilepsy, GeneralizedFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceQuality-Adjusted Life YearsRural Population

Identifiers

PMID26697856
PMCPMC4689490

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.