title: Prevalence and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in the South of Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder found in all societies. There are extensive epidemiologic studies of different European areas. However, not much information about the South-West of Europe exists. In Málaga, Health Care is free and there are only two public hospitals with Neurological Services that assist Eastern or Western areas depending on the case. The purpose is to estimate the epidemiology in Málaga through a hospital-based study and compare it to the other European studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review on the hospital data base and gathering of consecutive patients with a diagnosis of active epilepsy served by the Epilepsy outpatient clinic in Virgen de la Victoria Hospital throughout a year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2 281 patients fulfilled the criteria and 515 patients were recruited in order to study the epidemiologic characteristics. Male gender and focal onset seizures predominate (75.5%). Medium age 40. 58% of patients have been seizure-free in the last year. Known etiology in half of the patients. 54% of patients are treated with monotherapy. Valproic acid is the commonest drug. Other epidemiologic and demographic important data are provided. Data are analysed and compared to other European studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence rate in Western Málaga is 4.79 cases/1000 inhabitants. Characteristics of the sample are similar to those of other European studies. Although this is a hospital-based study, the particular characteristics of the Health Care System in our region enable us to gather real data concerning epidemiology and prevalence.
authors: Department of Neurology, Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, Malaga, Spain. guillerminagmartin@gmail.com
authors: Guillermina
authors: G
authors: Garcia-Martin
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Perez-Errazquin
authors: M Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Chamorro-Muñoz
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Romero-Acebal
authors: Guillermina
authors: G
authors: Martin-Reyes
authors: Marc Stefan
authors: MS
authors: Dawid-Milner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants