Prevalencia y factores de riesgo de epilepsia en el Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga, 2015-2020, Cuenca –Ecuador

Abstract

Background It is estimated that there are 50 million people with epilepsy. In Ecuador, the prevalence varies between 17-22/1,000. Risk factors are: family history, trauma, tumors, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular events, etc. General Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors for epilepsy at “Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga” in the years 2015-2020, Cuenca - Ecuador. Methods This research was an analytical, cross-sectional and prevalence study. The universe was the anonymous patient records of Hospital José Carrasco, 2015-2020. The sample was 382 records. The study variables were: epilepsy, age/sex, type of seizure, history: family, infections and tumors of the nervous system, head injuries, cerebrovascular events, neurodegenerative disease, immunosuppression. Frequency/percentages, chi square, odds ratio with its confidence interval (95%) were used. SPSS v21, Spanish, was used. Results The prevalence of epilepsy in adults was 10.14%. 66% of seizures were generalized, 77.5% tonic-clonic, and 8.9% absences. Risk factors were: family history (OD 7.2 CI 2.1-25.1), neurocysticercosis (OD 6.9 CI 2.0-23.8), tumors (OD 3.87 CI 1.4-10.6), trauma (OD 3.6 CI 1.6-7.8), and age (20-39 years) (OD 2.14 CI 1.3-3.4). Conclusions The prevalence of epilepsy in neurology patients was 10.14%. The crises were mainly of generalized origin, tonic-clonic and absences. Family history and neurocysticercosis increased the risk 7 times, tumors and trauma 4 times, and age between 20-39 years 2 times.