Dados do Trabalho

Título

ANALYSIS OF HOSPITALIZATION OF CHILDREN FOR EPILEPSY IN BRAZIL

Introdução

Epilepsy is a disease characterized by 2 or more unprovoked convulsive or reflex episodes in a defined period of time, in which alterations in brain electrical activity can induce neurophysiological, cognitive, psychological and social consequences. Thus, the importance of the epidemiological study of hospitalization for epilepsy is clear, due to the associated high morbidity and mortality.

Objetivo

Analyze the epidemiological profile of hospitalizations of children due to epilepsy in Brazil.

Método

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, using data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) collected between 2013 and 2023.

Resultados

During the period, 196,505 hospitalizations for epilepsy were recorded in patients aged 9 and under, with 2022 and 2013, respectively, being the years with the highest and lowest number of records, with 20,076 and 1,114 cases. The regions with the most reported cases were the Southeast (70,328), Northeast (52,440) and South (40,859), with the states of São Paulo (38,299), Minas Gerais (20,076), Paraná (17,428) and Rio Grande do Sul (16,963) standing out. The states with the fewest total cases were Acre (386), Roraima (460), Amapá (460) and Alagoas (862). There was a prevalence of males, with 109,038 total cases, compared to females, with 87,467 total cases, showing a ratio of 1.25:1. With regard to the race/color of the cases in which this parameter was recorded, the populations most affected were “pardo” with 84,882 cases, white with 61,704 cases and black with 4,468 cases. However, 45,451 (23%) did not report their race/color. There was a prevalence of cases in the population aged between 1 and 4 years, with 98,804 total cases, compared to the populations under 1 year old (43,751 total cases) and aged between 5 and 9 years (53,950 total cases). The average case-fatality rate during the period was 0.57, with a peak in 2023 (0.7), with the population under the age of 1 being the most affected, with an average rate of 0.96.

Conclusão

This study reveals a significant morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, with a predominance of cases in the population aged between 1 and 4 years, in the male population and in the Southeast, Northeast and South regions, especially in states such as São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Thus, regional disparities highlight challenges in equitable access to specialized health services, highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive and effective public policies.

Referências

FALCO-WALTER, J. Epilepsy-Definition, Classification, Pathophysiology, and Epidemiology. Seminars in Neurology, v. 40, n. 6, p. 617–623, dez. 2020.

Epilepsy: a public health imperative. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 jul. 2024.

Palavras Chave

Epidemiology; epilepsy; Pediatrics