Among adults with epilepsy reporting recent seizures, one of four on antiseizure medication and three of four not on medication had not seen a neurologist/epilepsy specialist within the last year, the 2010 and 2013 US National Health Interview Surveys.
We combined 2010 and 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data to examine the prevalence of seeing a neurologist/epilepsy specialist and/or a general doctor among US adults with active epilepsy who either took antiseizure medications or had at least one seizure in the past 12months. Among adults with recent seizures, about 76% of adults who did not take antiseizure medication (including 55% of those who saw only a general doctor and 21% of those who saw neither a specialist nor a general doctor) and 26% of those who took medication (including 23% of those who saw only a general doctor and 3% of those who saw neither a specialist nor a general doctor) had not seen a specialist within the past year-indicating gaps in quality care putting patients with uncontrolled seizures at risk of negative outcomes. The US Healthy People 2020 objectives call for increasing the proportion of people with epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures who receive appropriate medical care. Epilepsy stakeholders can work with community services/organizations to improve provider education about epilepsy, eliminate barriers to specialized care, and promote self-management support to reduce the burden of uncontrolled seizures in people with epilepsy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. Electronic address: wtd9@cdc.gov.
Wanjun
W
Cui
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Rosemarie
R
Kobau
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Matthew M
MM
Zack
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072141:Neurologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Access to care; Epilepsy; General doctor; Health care utilization; National Health Interview Survey; Neurologist/epilepsy specialist