title: The prevalence of epilepsy along the Arizona-Mexico border.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the epidemiology of epilepsy on the Arizona-Mexico border.
  
  
  METHODS
  Households in Southern Arizona were identified using two strategies. County-wide random digit dialing telephone surveys were supplemented with door-to-door recruitment in three Arizona border communities. Utilizing a two-step screening process, individuals with a seizure disorder or epilepsy were identified. A consensus diagnosis was arrived at after reviewing results from the detailed interview, medical records and clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15,738 household individuals were surveyed. Two hundred and three individuals were identified as having had epilepsy at some point in their life; 25% of them were previously not diagnosed. The sex and age-adjusted prevalence estimate was 14.3 per 1000 (95% CI: 12.5-16.1) for lifetime epilepsy, and 11.8 per 1000 (CI: 10.2-13.5) for active epilepsy (seizures in the past 5 years or currently taking antiseizure medications). Non-Hispanic Whites were two times more likely to have active epilepsy than Hispanics. The majority of individuals with lifetime history of epilepsy had idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy; most were localization-related epilepsy although the exact location could not be determined for the majority. Although most individuals with epilepsy report receiving care from a neurology specialist, they were more likely to have visited a non-specialist in the past 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lower prevalence of epilepsy among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics supports previous survey findings in the Southwest US and may be due to language, acculturation factors, stigma, or a reflection of the "healthy immigrant effect". The surprisingly high proportion of previously un-diagnosed individuals shows a need for further investigation as well as a need to increase community awareness.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. jchong@u.arizona.edu
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Chong
authors: Dale C
authors: DC
authors: Hesdorffer
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Thurman
authors: Darlene
authors: D
authors: Lopez
authors: Robin B
authors: RB
authors: Harris
authors: W Allen
authors: WA
authors: Hauser
authors: Elizabeth T
authors: ET
authors: Labiner
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Velarde
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Labiner
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult