Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41563000›Full record

ArticlePediatric reports2026

Nationwide Study of Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Estonia: Lower Incidence and Insights into Etiology.

Stella Lilles, Klari Heidmets, Kaisa Teele Oja, Karit Reinson, Laura Roht, Sander Pajusalu, Monica H Wojcik, Katrin Õunap, Inga Talvik

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

9 authors.

Stella LillesChildren's Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0002-6020-5492
Klari HeidmetsChildren's Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.
Kaisa Teele OjaGenetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0002-7084-0238
Karit ReinsonGenetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.
Laura RohtGenetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0002-5727-6759
Sander PajusaluGenetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0002-5435-0781
Monica H WojcikDivisions of Newborn Medicine and Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8162-5031
Katrin ÕunapGenetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0002-4594-6364
Inga TalvikChildren's Clinic, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia.

Funding

Joint Center for Mendelian GenomicsUM1HG008900 · NHGRI · BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. · PI O'DONNELL-LURIA, ANNE, REHM, HEIDI L · 2016 to 2020
$16.5M
Estonian Research Council PRG2040Estonian Research Council PRG471Estonian Research Council PSG297Estonian Research Council PSG774National Institute of Child Health and Human Development K23HD102589NHGRI NIH HHS UM1HG008900
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesDrug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a significant health problem leading to cognitive impairment and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and etiology of DRE in children in Estonia.

methodsA retrospective, population-based study of childhood DRE was conducted in Estonia from 1 January 2013, to 31 December 2017. All cases were identified through the only two pediatric neurology departments in the country, both located at tertiary care hospitals (Tartu University Hospital and Tallinn Children's Hospital), ensuring complete nationwide coverage. Epidemiological, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and genetic data (chromosomal microarray, single-gene tests, gene panels, and exome/genome sequencing) were collected.

resultsThe incidence rate of childhood epilepsy was 84.1 per 100,000. DRE developed in 10% of children with new-onset epilepsy, corresponding to an incidence rate of 8.5 per 100,000. Etiologically relevant MRI abnormalities were identified in 43% of patients with DRE, most commonly congenital brain malformations (19%). Pathogenic single-gene sequence variants were detected in 25 of 110 patients (23%), copy number variants in four patients (4%), and chromosomal aberrations in one patient (1%). Novel candidate disease genes of uncertain pathogenicity were identified in four patients (4%). The most frequent etiology of DRE was structural (29%), followed by genetic (19%), with combined etiologies (13%) also contributing significantly.

conclusionsOur study is the first epidemiological study of DRE in children in Estonia and the Baltic region. The relatively low incidence observed may reflect the comprehensive national ascertainment and centralized management of pediatric epilepsy in tertiary care centers.

Indexed as

drug-resistant epilepsyepidemiologyetiologygeneticsincidenceneuroimagingpediatric epilepsy

Identifiers

PMID41563000
PMCPMC12821569

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.