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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carmen J. Buxo-Martinez, MPH, Manuel Santiago-Cabrera, MPH, Linnette Rodriguez-Figueroa, MS, and Public Health Field Laboratory Group, 2002. Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, 787-238-2717, cbuxo@rcm.upr.edu

OBJECTIVE: To describe the socio-demographic profile and health status of patients that participated in the Puerto Rico Epilepsy Comprehensive Program (PROCEP^TM, in Spanish) of the Adult University Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the period of June 2001 to May 2002. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed by reviewing 155 available medical records. The sample consisted of patients ≥ 18 years old with untreatable epilepsy. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, z Test, Chi-Square Test, and Fisher's Exact Test. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of the patients were women, almost half (46.1%) reported to be never married, 59.1% resided in the Metropolitan Region, and most (58.0%) had private health insurance. Although 61.8% of the patients reported to be high school graduates, 27.1% of these were unemployed. Median age of onset of epilepsy was significantly higher in women (19 vs. 14 years). About 44.5% of the patients had a diagnosis of partial epilepsy. Most of the patients (56.8%) reported emotional stress as a precipitant factor for seizure. The most common etiologic factor in men was mental retardation (18.3%); in women, it was febrile convulsions (23.1%). The most commonly used medications were: Lamictal, Keppra, and Dilantin. Statistically significant differences were reported in the use of Lamictal and Dilantin by health insurance type. CONCLUSION: Most results are similar to data reported previously in other studies worldwide. Further analytic epidemiological studies are recommended to evaluate epilepsy in Puerto Rico.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the socio-demographic profile of patients with epilepsy in Puerto Rico.
• Describe the health status of patients that participated in the Puerto Rico Epilepsy Comprehensive Program.
• Recognize the importance of further research in epilepsy minority populations.

Keywords: Minority Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 966.2 kb)