EPILEPSY HOSPITALIZATIONS AND MORTALITY: A COMPARISON BETWEEN MACRO-REGIONS OF MARANHÃO

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is a disorder of worldwide relevance, characterized by an alteration in the balance between stimulus and inhibition in the brain. The absence of this balance leads to seizures and epilepsy - with different classifications and particularities that bring relevant functional impairment to the daily lives of people with the disease. Aims: To compare the three Health Macro-regions of Maranhão as to hospitalization data for epilepsy. Methods: Collection and evaluation of secondary, public and online data on hospitalization for epilepsy available by the TABNET-DATASUS system, between 2011 and 2020, was performed. This is an epidemiological, quantitative and descriptive study. Data were extracted from the SUS Health Information on Hospital Morbidity (SIH/SUS). Results: There was a total of 10,959 hospitalizations for epilepsy, with a tendency to stability over the years in the three Macroregions. In the North, the mortality rate was the highest (2.91), but presented the lowest number of hospitalizations (1.44/1000hab). The Eastern Macro-region was the one with the best sign of mortality rate decrease (from 4.5 in 2016 to 0.36 in 2020).  Conclusions: Comparatively, each region presented its particularities, but the Eastern Macroregion presents better mortality indicators, and the Northern Macroregion, lower percentage of hospitalizations.