Treating People With Epilepsy in Rural Low-Income Countries Is Feasible. Observations and Reflections From a “Real Life Experience” After a Long Lasting Intervention in the Rural Chaco

Introduction: Epilepsy represents an important public health issue, in particular in low and middle-income countries where significant disparities are present in the care available for patients with epilepsy. Treatment cost and unavailability of drugs represent important barriers in treating people with epilepsy especially in rural setting. Aim of the study was to evaluate, by means of routine data, the current real-life clinical practice in epilepsy in the rural communities of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Treatment activity followed educational campaigns and an anthropological fieldwork over more than 20 years.Material and Methods: Medical records of people with epilepsy (PWE) living in the rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco who received antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), from 2012 to 2016, and were followed-up for at least 1 year were analyzed. Treatment delivery and follow up visits were managed by a neurologist with the support of rural health care workers.Results: From 2012 to 2016, 157 PWE (76 men with a mean age of 24.2 ± 15.7) have been included in the study. Structural epilepsy was the most common type, recorded in 54 cases (34.4%) and the most common reported causes were perinatal factors, present in 11 subjects (20.0%). Almost all patients presented epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (91.4%). The most common AED prescribed was phenobarbital followed by carbamazepine. During the follow-up, a dramatic seizures reduction was observed, with 31 subjects (19.7%) being seizures-free at the last follow-up. However, 48 subjects (30.6%) did not assume the medication regularly and 10 interrupted the drug intake. More than 20% of PWE did not receive any financial supports for AEDs. During the follow-up period 10 patients died but only in one case the death was probably caused by epilepsy.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that PWE in rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco are willing to seek medical attention and to receive antiepileptic treatment. However, improvement in care is needed to assure compliance to AED treatment, including activity to increase awareness toward epilepsy among community members and health staff of the rural communities and to guarantee the coverage of treatment costs and drug supply

Demanda asistencial neurológica ambulatoria en un centro de consulta privada en Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

Objectives:  to analyze the demographic and diagnostic variables that condition the ambulatory care demand of the private neurological consultation for the first time. Methods:  observational, descriptive, retrospective study of the demand for first-time outpatient consultations in a private neurological center, for 24 months (January-2016 to December-2017). The medical information was obtained from computerized clinical records by registering: age, gender and diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10 edition (ICD-10). Results:  the total number of patients in the study was 2372, (60%) were women. The mean age was 42.6 years ± 18.8 years, (42.20%) are over 65 years. The most frequent diagnosis was primary headache (33.4%); followed by epilepsy (14%); cervicalgia, dorsalgia and low back pain (13.2%), psychiatric disorders (6.5%). In older than 65 years cognitive impairment was the most frequent diagnosis (14.68%), followed by abnormal movements. Conclusions:  neurological patients are predominantly under 65 years of age and female. The most frequent pathology was primary headache.Objetivo: analizar las variables demográficas y diagnósticas que condicionan la demanda asistencial ambulatoria de la consulta neurológica privada por primera vez. Métodos:  estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo, de la demanda de consultas ambulatorias de primera vez en un centro neurológico privado, durante 24 meses (enero-2016 hasta diciembre-2017). La información médica fue obtenida a partir de registros clínicos computarizados registrándose: edad, género y diagnóstico según la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, 10 edición (CIE-10). Resultados: el total de pacientes del estudio fue de 2 372, (60%) fueron mujeres. La edad media fue de 42,6 años ± 18,8 años, (42,20%) son mayores de 65 años. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue cefalea primaria (33,4%); seguido por epilepsia (14%); cervicalgia, dorsalgia y lumbalgia (13,2%), trastornos psiquiátricos (6,5%). En mayores de 65 años el deterioro cognitivo fue el diagnóstico más frecuente (14,68%), seguido de movimientos anormales. Conclusión: Los pacientes neurológicos son predominantemente menores de 65 años y de sexo femenino. La patología más frecuente fue la cefalea primaria

A screening questionnaire for convulsive seizures: A three-stage field-validation in rural Bolivia

International audienceIntroduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in Latin American Countries (LAC) and epilepsy associated with convulsive seizures is the most frequent type. Therefore, the detection of convulsive seizures is a priority, but a validated Spanish-language screening tool to detect convulsive seizures is not available. We performed a field validation to evaluate the accuracy of a Spanish-language questionnaire to detect convulsive seizures in rural Bolivia using a three-stage design. The questionnaire was also administered face-to-face, using a two-stage design, to evaluate the difference in accuracy.Methods: The study was carried out in the rural communities of the Gran Chaco region. The questionnaire consists of a single screening question directed toward the householders and a confirmatory section administered face-to-face to the index case. Positive subjects underwent a neurological examination to detect false positive and true positive subjects. To estimate the proportion of false negative, a random sample of about 20% of the screened negative underwent a neurological evaluation.Results: 792 householders have been interviewed representing a population of 3,562 subjects (52.2% men; mean age 24.5 ± 19.7 years). We found a sensitivity of 76.3% (95% CI 59.8–88.6) with a specificity of 99.6% (95% CI 99.4–99.8). The two-stage design showed only a slightly higher sensitivity respect to the three-stage design.Conclusion: Our screening tool shows a good accuracy and can be easily used by trained health workers to quickly screen the population of the rural communities of LAC through the householders using a three-stage design

Long-Standing International Cooperation in Parasitology Research: A Summary of 35 Years of Activities in the Bolivian Chaco

The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation. This epidemiological scenario favors the spread of transmissible diseases, including several parasitic infections belonging to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) group. In this area, a long-standing research activity, built upon the synergism between local and foreign institutions, has been established since the late 1980s and helps to fill in the knowledge gap about the epidemiology dynamics of soil-transmitted helminths, vector-borne parasites, and other parasitic diseases. A 35-year history of cooperation programs in parasitology research has contributed to informing local health authorities of the NTD burden in the Bolivian Chaco and, ultimately, supports local healthcare providers in the management of parasitic diseases

Flow chart describing the validation process.

<p>TP, true positive; FP, false positive; TN, true negative; FN, false negative. <i>*</i> expected values.</p

Performances of the six confirmatory questions of the questionnaire.

<p>Performances of the six confirmatory questions of the questionnaire.</p

Baseline characteristics of the subjects screened positive and negative after the two-stage design.

<p>Baseline characteristics of the subjects screened positive and negative after the two-stage design.</p

Values of accuracy of the questionnaire.

<p>Values of accuracy of the questionnaire.</p

Characteristics of the existing questionnaires for convulsive seizures.

<p>Characteristics of the existing questionnaires for convulsive seizures.</p