ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Neurological diseases are a growing concern for public health planners. The purpose of this study was to determine the burden of neurological diagnosis in a primary health care setting in the East Metropolitan Health Service in Santiago, Chile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A random blocked sample of diagnosis in a one year period was obtained balanced by each of the fourteen clinics in the area. This corresponded to 3% of all visits. A total of 72 diagnosis corresponding to diseases of the nervous system were selected according to ICD 9 definitions. RESULTS: Of a total of 13,388 visits, 705 (5.3%) corresponded to disease or disorders attributable to the nervous system or that frequently mean consultation with neurologists. Of these, 63.5% were women. The highest rates were found between the second and fourth decades. The most frequent diagnosis were attention deficit disorder in children, headache in adults and spinal pain in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: The demand for care for syndromes that affect the nervous system in the primary health care setting in a sample of visits is concentrated in chronic disease that require a multidisciplinary approach. The finding are similar to other studies. The data help in defining were to concentrate efforts in health planning and education for the care of neurological disorder in the primary care setting.
Subject(s)
Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Nervous System/physiopathology , Primary Health Care , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Chile , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Nervous System/pathology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Introducción. Las enfermedades neurológicas son una preocupación creciente desde el punto de vista de la salud pública.El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de diagnósticos neurológicos en una muestra de consultas de la atención primaria del Servicio de Salud Metropolitano Oriente de Santiago de Chile. Pacientes y métodos. Se obtuvo una muestra aleatoria simple por conglomerado, equilibrada por consultorio, del 3 por ciento del total de consultas ambulatorias de 12 meses. Se identificaron 73 diagnósticos correspondientes a enfermedades del sistema nervioso, de acuerdo a la ICD-9. Resultados. De 13.388 consultas, 705 (5,3 por ciento) correspondieron a diagnósticos por enfermedades o síndromes neurológicos. Un 63,5 por ciento de pacientes eran mujeres. Las tasas de diagnósticos neurológicos fueron más altas en la segunda, tercera y cuarta década. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron, en niños, el síndrome de déficit atencional; en adultos, las cefaleas; y en adultos mayores, los dolores de columna. Discusión. La demanda de atención neurológica en la atención primaria de una muestra de consultas se concentra en condiciones crónicas que afectan a un elevado número de niños y adultos. Estos datos deberían servir para la elaboración de programas de atención específicos y de capacitación adecuada (AU)
Introduction. Neurological diseases are a growing concern for public health planners. The purpose of this study was to determine the burden of neurological diagnosis in a primary health care setting in the East Metropolitan Health Service in Santiago, Chile. Patients and methods. A random blocked sample of diagnosis in a one year period was obtained balanced by each of the fourteen clinics in the area. This corresponded to 3% of all visits. A total of 72 diagnosis corresponding to diseases of the nervous system were selected according to ICD-9 definitions. Results. Of a total of 13,388 visits, 705 (5.3%) corresponded to disease or disorders attributable to the nervous system or that frequently mean consultation with neurologists. Of these, 63.5% were women. The highest rates were found between the second and fourth decades. The most frequent diagnosis were attention deficit disorder in children, headache in adults and spinal pain in the elderly.Conclusions. The demand for care for syndromes that affect the nervous system in the primary health care setting in a sample of visits is concentrated in chronic disease that require a multidisciplinary approach. The finding are similar to other studies. The data help in defining were to concentrate efforts in health planning and education for the care of neurological disorder in the primary care setting (AU)
