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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · International Journal of Epilepsy 2022; 08(01): 001-005
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761630
Original Article

Epilepsy Diagnosis Delay in a Tertiary Hospital Center: What Facts, for What Reasons?

Yahya Naji 
1   Neurology Department, University Hospital Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco
2   Neuroscience Research Laboratory, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
,
Hasna Bentaher
1   Neurology Department, University Hospital Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco
2   Neuroscience Research Laboratory, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
,
Assma Boudanga 
1   Neurology Department, University Hospital Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco
2   Neuroscience Research Laboratory, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
,
Najib Kissani 
1   Neurology Department, University Hospital Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco
2   Neuroscience Research Laboratory, University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
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Abstract

Objectives Epilepsy remains a public health problem in developing countries, especially in Morocco. This prospective study was performed to expose new data about the time required to diagnose epilepsy in a tertiary hospital center and the main reasons behind its delay.

Methods From January 2018 to December 2019, time from first seizure to diagnosis was acquired from 300 patients using face-to-face interview with pre-established sheet at the neurology department in tertiary hospital center (Marrakech, Morocco).

Results Of the 300 patients, the mean epilepsy diagnosis delay was about 5 years, ranging from 1 month to over 40 years, with an 18 months difference between urban and rural habitation. About 36.4% had a delayed diagnosis of 1 year, 34% delayed by more than 5 years, and 26% delayed above 10 years. The main type of seizures was focal, mainly affecting young male patients. Rural habitation and seizure type impact significantly the delay of diagnosis.

Conclusion This study revealed considerable epilepsy diagnosis delay with a statistically significant impact of rural habitation and seizure type. New and efficient strategies are needed to be developed to reduce the delay in epilepsy diagnosis and improve epilepsy care.

Keywords

epilepsy - diagnosis delay - reasons - tertiary hospital center


Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023

© 2023. Indian Epilepsy Society. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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