Assessment of the epilepsy treatment gap in two cities of south-east of Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the epilepsy treatment gap in Campinas and São Josédo Rio Preto, two cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
The treatment gap was estimated using the formula n1-n2/n1x100, where n1 was calculated using 1.86% prevalence and represented the number of individuals with epilepsy, while n2 represented the number of people who could be treated with an adult standard dose for a year utilizing the antiepileptic drugs supplied by the public health system.


RESULTS
Our estimates revealed that in 2001, approximately 50% of the population with epilepsy was treated with the recommended antiepileptic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a relevant percentage of patients with epilepsy are not untreated. Further epidemiological studies are needed to investigate the reasons for this treatment gap so that interventions can reduce this gap and improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.
Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas SP, Brazil.
Ana Lúcia Andrade
AL
Noronha
Lúcia Helena
LH
Marques
Moacir Alves
MA
Borges
Fernando
F
Cendes
Carlos Alberto Mantovani
CA
Guerreiro
Li Li
LL
Min
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital