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Abstract Details

Access to health care in patients with epilepsy in Latin America
Global Health and Neuroepidemiology
P4 - Poster Session 4 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)
10-014

Our objective was to assess the access to epilepsy care in LAC.

The lifelong prevalence of epilepsy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) stands at an average of 17.8 per 1,000 inhabitants. The treatment gap is greater than 50%, thus more than half are not receiving any type of care. Thus, there is growing concern about the access to health services for epilepsy patients.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey regarding access to resources, programs and services related to the care of people with epilepsy in LAC. Neurologists and epilepsy specialists were surveyed either by mail or in-person during the XII Latin American Epilepsy Congress in Medellin, Colombia from October 1st to 4th, 2022.
98 of 101 physicians answered our survey in person. Information was obtained from 17 countries in LAC, 37,8% epilepsy specialists and 62.2% neurologists. 85% of physicians reported issues accessing education and work for people with epilepsy. 62.1% countries had prenatal care programs. 78% of physicians reported a high cost of care as the main access barrier. EEG was available in 94.5% countries and CT scan in 82.7%. There were 40 epilepsy surgery programs in 10 of the 17 countries surveyed. 54% countries did not have legislation related to access to epilepsy surgery and 85.6% physicians reported there is no information available regarding this treatment. Epilepsy fellowship programs were reported available in 8 of the 17 countries.
There is a low prevalence of educational and work opportunities for patients with epilepsy in LAC. Government support is weak, as evidenced by a low prevalence of preventive measures for epilepsy. Most countries have access to neurologists and diagnostic equipment, yet with high cost of ASM. There is a need for improved access in the treatment, evaluation, and education of epilepsy in LAC.
Authors/Disclosures
Ana C. Villegas
PRESENTER 		Ms. Villegas has nothing to disclose.
Hernan Nicolas Lemus Esquivel, MD (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) Dr. Lemus Esquivel has nothing to disclose.
Luis C. Mayor-Romero, MD (Hospital Universitario Fundacion Santa Fe De Bogot) Dr. Mayor-Romero has nothing to disclose.
No disclosure on file