Prevalence of self-reported epilepsy, health care access, and health behaviors among adults in South Carolina.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from South Carolina for 2003-2005 were used to determine epilepsy prevalence and prevalence variation by demographic subgroups, and to compare health insurance coverage, health care visits, and health-related behaviors among persons with epilepsy and the general population. Two percent of respondents reported they had ever been told by a doctor that they had epilepsy, and 1% reported active epilepsy. Almost half of those with active epilepsy reported a seizure in the prior 3 months. More than one-third of respondents with active epilepsy reported that there was a time in the past 12 months when they needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost. Persons with epilepsy were more likely to smoke and have less physical activity. Persons with epilepsy need better access to health care, as well as interventions focused on smoking cessation and increased physical activity.
Ferguson
Pamela L
PL
Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425-8350, USA. ferguspl@musc.edu
Chiprich
Jennifer
J
Smith
Gigi
G
Dong
Beili
B
Wannamaker
Braxton B
BB
Kobau
Rosemarie
R
Thurman
David J
DJ
Selassie
Anbesaw W
AW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult