title: Different neurological conditions between urban and rural samples from central Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite availability of neuroepidemiological data, urban-rural differences on neurological diseases have almost never been considered. Our goal is to identify differences in the frequency of neurological conditions between a rural and an urban sample from central Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared frequencies of neurological encounters of an urban sample from Bogotá (N=2932), to our rural sample from Tunja (N=2664), collected both circa to 2000. The classification of neurological conditions used is based on the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, clinical modification. A clustered sampling was used. Information collection was performed in a format designed for this purpose and already used in Colombia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highly significant statistical differences (p<0.0001) were found for cerebrovascular diseases, seizure disorder, headache, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, and, inflammatory (infectious) conditions. Neurodevelopmental disorders (p=0.0029), dizziness and balance problems (p=0.0018), and neuropathies (p=0.0007), also showed statistically significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed significant differences on all categories and diagnostics between the samples. Cerebrovascular disease the most frequent reason of neurological consultation in the rural sample could be confounded by sociodemographic (aging of the population, urbanization process), or the concomitant presence of medical (chronic pulmonary) and/or environmental (air pollution) conditions.
authors: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. habeychme@upmc.edu
authors: Miguel E
authors: ME
authors: Habeych
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: García-Habeych
authors: Ruby C
authors: RC
authors: Castilla-Puentes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*