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Paediatric Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Wales: A Retrospective Observational Study
,
Huw Strafford,
Beata Fonferko-Shadrach,
Kathryn Bush ,
Robert Powell,
Catharine White,
Arron Lacey ,
Owen Pickrell
Journal of Child Neurology
Swansea University Authors:
Russell Azad Khan , Huw Strafford, Beata Fonferko-Shadrach, Robert Powell, Catharine White, Arron Lacey , Owen Pickrell
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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/08830738261436139
Abstract
This study measures the incidence and prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in children in Wales and assesses risk factors and health care utilisation. We identified 177 children (1-15 years) with IIH diagnosed between 2003 and 2017. Incidence increased from 1.6/100 000 per year (...
| Published in: | Journal of Child Neurology |
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| ISSN: | 0883-0738 1708-8283 |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71613 |
| Abstract: |
This study measures the incidence and prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in children in Wales and assesses risk factors and health care utilisation. We identified 177 children (1-15 years) with IIH diagnosed between 2003 and 2017. Incidence increased from 1.6/100 000 per year (2003) to 3.5/100 000 per year (2017). Sixty-three percent of the cases were girls, and 87% were diagnosed between 7 and 15 years. Children in the most deprived quintile were more likely to develop IIH compared to children in the least deprived quintile (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7 [95%CI = 1.1-2.9]). Obese and overweight children were more likely to develop IIH compared with non-overweight children (ORs = 21 [95%CI = 9-51] and 5.1 [95%CI = 1.9-14]). Children with IIH had higher hospital admission rates than children without IIH (rate ratio = 3.9; 95% CI 3.6-4.3). The increasing incidence, association with BMI and deprivation, and increased health care utilisation in children with IIH are relevant findings to health care professionals and policy makers. |
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| Keywords: |
children, epidemiology, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, obesity, socio-economic deprivation |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by staff funded as part of the Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit Infrastructure Award (grant UA05) and the Wales Gene Park. The BRAIN Unit and the Welsh Gene Park are funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales. This work was also supported by Health Data Research UK, which receives its funding from HDR UK Ltd. (HDR-9006) funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Department of Health and Social Care (England), Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), British Heart Foundation (BHF), and the Wellcome Trust. |