Table 2.
Summary characteristics of included studies
| Study/patient characteristic | Studies (n=29) |
Studies (%) |
| Year of publication | ||
| 1980–1989 | 1 | 3.45 |
| 1990–1999 | 6 | 20.69 |
| 2000–2009 | 5 | 17.24 |
| 2010–2015 | 17 | 58.62 |
| Continent (of country of study conduct) | ||
| Europe | 20 | 68.97 |
| North America | 5 | 17.24 |
| Asia | 1 | 3.45 |
| Australia | 2 | 6.90 |
| Trans-Continental | 1 | 3.45 |
| Study design | ||
| Observational cohort | 29 | 100.00 |
| Case–control | 0 | 0.00 |
| Randomised clinical trial | 0 | 0.00 |
| Registry study | ||
| Yes | 11 | 37.93 |
| No | 18 | 62.07 |
| Sample size | ||
| 0–99 | 18 | 62.07 |
| 100–299 | 9 | 31.03 |
| 300–499 | 1 | 3.45 |
| 500–699 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 700–999 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1000+ | 1 | 3.45 |
| Number of interventions | ||
| 2 | 4 | 13.79 |
| 3 | 5 | 17.24 |
| 4 | 8 | 27.59 |
| 5–7 | 8 | 27.59 |
| 8–10 | 2 | 6.90 |
| 11+ | 2 | 6.90 |
| Outcomes*† | ||
| Cognitive developmental delay | 12 | 58.62 |
| Autism/dyspraxia | 5 | 17.24 |
| Language delay | 5 | 17.24 |
| ADHD | 5 | 17.24 |
| Psychomotor developmental delay | 11 | 37.93 |
| Neonatal seizures | 2 | 6.90 |
| Social impairment | 1 | 3.45 |
| Funding | ||
| Public | 15 | 51.72 |
| Private | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mixed public and private | 4 | 13.79 |
| NR/unclear | 10 | 34.48 |
| Treatment indication | ||
| Epilepsy | 23 | 79.31 |
| Mixed indications‡ | 0 | 0.00 |
| NR | 6 | 20.69 |
| Epileptic control group§ | ||
| Yes | 15 | 51.72 |
| No/NR/NA | 14 | 48.28 |
| Mean maternal age (years) | ||
| 24–26 | 2 | 6.90 |
| 27–29 | 5 | 17.24 |
| 30+ | 4 | 13.79 |
| NR | 18 | 62.07 |
| AED exposure during pregnancy | ||
| Reported as during first trimester | 5 | 17.24 |
| Reported as any time during pregnancy | 4 | 13.79 |
| During pregnancy and breast feeding | 5 | 17.24 |
| NR | 15 | 51.72 |
| Alcohol use during pregnancy | ||
| Yes | 5 | 17.24 |
| NR | 24 | 82.76 |
| Tobacco use during pregnancy | ||
| Yes | 7 | 24.14 |
| NR | 22 | 75.86 |
*Values in this category do not match totals as some studies report more than one outcome.
†Percentage of total number of included studies (n=29).
‡Includes individuals taking AEDs for psychiatric disorders, migraine and neuropathic/neurological pain.
§Consisted of women with epilepsy who did not take AEDs during pregnancy.
ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; AED, antiepileptic drug(s); NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.