The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people (a) in total and (b) under the age of 25 have died with epilepsy being recorded as a contributing factor to the death in each of the last five years. (278133)
The attached table provides the number of deaths where epilepsy was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate for persons (a) of all ages and (b) under the age of 25 in England and Wales, for the years 2003 to 2007 (the latest year available).
Deaths (persons) Year All ages Under 25 2003 2,277 195 2004 2,100 179 2005 2,269 192 2006 2,251 194 2007 2,240 175 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40-G41. Deaths are included where epilepsy was recorded as the underlying cause of death or mentioned anywhere else on the death certificate. 2 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.