Health Equity Concerns in Epilepsy Treatment Ignored by Medical Community

Strategic Insights -

Research has revealed a concerning trend in the medical community's approach to epilepsy treatment, with a majority of studies and reviews ignoring essential health equity considerations. According to a study published in the Archives of Epilepsy, as many as 81.5% of primary studies on add-on therapies for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy in adults were conducted in high-income countries, with none of the articles mentioning the issue of justice in health or PROGRESS criteria. Despite this, over a third of the original studies mentioned patients' race, and about 35% also mentioned patients' place of residence.

Key Takeaways:

  • 81.5% of primary studies on add-on therapies for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy in adults were conducted in high-income countries.
  • None of the articles in the Cochrane systematic reviews and primary studies on add-on therapy for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy in adults mentioned the issue of justice in health or PROGRESS criteria.
  • About 35% of the original studies mentioned patients' race, and over a third of the original articles also mentioned patients' place of residence.
  • The Cochrane-related reviews confirm that PROGRESS criteria are rarely considered in trials of interventions linked to add-on therapies for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy.
  • The study's findings suggest that the medical community needs to prioritize health equity in epilepsy treatment, particularly in low-income countries.

Statistics:

  • 81.5% of primary studies on add-on therapies for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy in adults were conducted in high-income countries.
  • 54 primary studies were included in the research, with 7 systematic reviews.
  • About 35% of the original articles mentioned patients' race.
  • None of the articles in the Cochrane systematic reviews and primary studies on add-on therapy for treatment-resistant focal epilepsy in adults mentioned the issue of justice in health or PROGRESS criteria.

Sources:

  • "Health Equity Consideration in Cochrane Systematic Reviews and Primary Studies on Add-on Therapy for Refractory Focal Epilepsy Treatment." Archives of Epilepsy, 2024, 30(2): 43-47.
  • DOI: 10.4274/ArchEpilepsy.2024.23107.
  • NewsRx. Research on Epilepsy Published by Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Health Equity Consideration in Cochrane Systematic Reviews and Primary Studies on Add-on Therapy for Refractory Focal Epilepsy Treatment). Health & Medicine Week. July 26, 2024; p 4836.