Betsy C. Vázquez-Cruz, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Mario A. Sebastián-Díaz, Department of Nephrology, Hospital de Alta Especialidad Centro Sur, PEMEX, Mexico City, Mexico
Irving Fuentes-Calvo, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Fernando Vásquez-López, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Jimena González-Salido, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Jimena Colado-Martínez, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
José L. Chang-Segura, Department of Neurology, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), San José, Costa Rica
Gina González-Calderón, Department of Vascular Neurology, Centro Médico ABC, Mexico City, Mexico
Karen E. Guzmán-Sánchez, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Andrea Santos-Peyret, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Hospital General Dr. Darío Fernández Fierro, ISSSTE, Mexico City, Mexico
Emilia M. González-Villagómez, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Arnold R. Thompson-Cerna, Department of Neurology, Hospital Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Salvador Martínez-Medina, Neurology Residency Program, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Jimena Armenta-Báez, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Adriana Ochoa-Morales, Department of Neurogenetics, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
Aurelio Jara-Prado, Department of Neurogenetics, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
Jorge Guerrero-Camacho, Department of Neurogenetics, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
L. Jimena Gómez-Rodríguez, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Médica Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
Pilar Robles-Lomelin, Neurology Residency Program, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Juan C. Vera-López, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Oscar I. Vázquez-Hernández, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Maximiliano Salgado-Deza, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico
Daniel Crail-Meléndez, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
Iris E. Martínez-Juárez, Epilepsy Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico; Laboratory of Cognitive and Clinical Neurophysiology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Neurological, Neurosurgical and Spinal Group, Hospital Ángeles Acoxpa, Mexico City, Mexico
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiological contingency measures implemented by governments worldwide drastically transformed social dynamics. As a result, neurologists and epileptologists adopted virtual consultations as an alternative to continue providing clinical care to patients with epilepsy. Objective: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with epilepsy who attended teleconsultations at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INNN) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare them with those who did not access this consultation modality. Method: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted. Data were analyzed from patients with epilepsy who had scheduled consultations at the INNN between April and July 2020. Results: A total of 301 patients had scheduled appointments at the Epilepsy Clinic. Of this population, 144 patients (47.8%) accessed the teleconsultation modality, of which 78 (54.2%) were women, and 66 (45.8%) were men. The average age of the patients was 34.5 ± 10.8 years. Regarding seizure etiology, 96 patients (66.7%) had a structural cause, and 27 (18.8%) had a genetic etiology. Concerning seizure types, 108 patients (75%) reported focal seizures. In terms of seizure control, 66 patients (45.8%) had persistent seizures. No significant association was found between age, sex, or epilepsy etiology and attendance at teleconsultations. Conclusion: Through the program, teleconsultations were provided to patients with epilepsy. Most of the scheduled patients attended this new modality, with a predominance of the adult population.
Keywords: Remote healthcare. COVID-19. Epilepsy. Neurology. Pandemic. Teleconsultation.