Dados do Trabalho

Título

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF EPILEPSY HOSPITALIZATIONS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN PARA STATE, BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS FROM 2012 TO 2022

Introdução

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by recurrent, unpredictable episodes of seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal, excessive electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can affect people of all ages and can have different causes, such as brain damage, congenital abnormalities, infections, genetic or unknown diseases.

Objetivo

This article aims to present the epidemiological profile of epilepsy hospitalizations in the age group 0 to 14 years in the state of Pará, Brazil, between 2012 and 2022.

Método

This is a retrospective epidemiological study, in which data were obtained from the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). The analysis comprised the number of reported cases in the State of Pará from 2012 to 2022. The variables investigated were sex, race/ethnicity, healt area and age (0-14). Descriptive statistics using absolute and relative frequencies were employed for data analysis.

Resultados e Conclusões

The data revealed a total of 10,773 hospitalizations due to epilepsy between 2012 and 2022, of which 5,067 corresponded to the age group of 0 to 14 years (47.03%), with an average of 460 per year. Within this age group, the Araguaia region had the highest incidence (16%). Males were the most affected gender, with 2,822 hospitalizations (55.69%). The age range of 1 to 4 years reported 2,066 cases (40.77%), being the most prevalent. Individuals of mixed race represented the majority of cases, with 3,182 hospitalizations (62.79%), followed by 1,713 cases where race/ethnicity was not identified. This analysis presented an epidemiological profile of epilepsy hospitalizations in Pará between 2012 and 2022. The number of hospitalized patients in the age group 0 to 14 years reached a significant value, comprising approximately half of the total number of cases. Understanding the epidemiology and specificities of this pathology is essential for the implementation of effective strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood epilepsy.

Palavras Chave

Epilepsy; Hospitalization; Epidemiological.

Declaração de conflito de interesses de TODOS os autores

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.