Idiopathic intracranial hypertension on the rise in Wales

Takeaway

• This study found a significant increase in the incidence and prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in Wales from 2003 to 2017.
• There were corresponding increases in body mass index (BMI) in the population.
• IIH was associated with increased deprivation. 

• The increasing incidence of IIH along with increased healthcare utilisation in patients with IIH has significant implications for healthcare professionals and policymakers.

Study details

• This retrospective study evaluated 35 million patient years of routinely collected healthcare data between 2003 and 2017 to characterise trends in incidence, prevalence and healthcare outcomes in the IIH population of Wales.
• Funding: Health Data Research UK.

• Overall, 1765 people (women, 84.6%) had IIH in 2017.
• IIH prevalence and incidence increased significantly from 12/100,000 and 2.3/100,000/year in 2003 to 76/100,000 and 7.8/100,000/year in 2017, respectively (P<.001).
• Moreover, the rate of obesity (BMI, >30 kg/m²) increased from 29% in 2003 to 40% in 2017 (P<.001).
• Women were at higher risk of IIH than men (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 3.51-4.50).
• After adjustment for gender and BMI, the risk of IIH was lower in the least vs most deprived quintile (adjusted OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.55-0.76).
• Increasing BMI elevated the risk of IIH (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.13-1.14).
• The rate of unscheduled hospital visits was higher in people with IIH vs controls (rate ratio [RR], 5.28; 95% CI, 5.04-5.54) and in those with IIH and cerebral spinal fluidshunts vs those without shunts (RR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.89-2.15).

• Retrospective design.
• Risk of bias.