Differential perspective between public and private healthcare in epilepsy reference centers in Mexico

Background: Public and private healthcare in epilepsy are two different systems for citizens to enjoy health. Aims: The objective was to compare epidemiological and social data between public and private hospitals in epilepsy care in Mexico. Methods: Descriptive, prospective, observational, and longitudinal study. Inclusion criteria were patients with epilepsy from March 2021 to December 2022 in a tertiary private hospital (1) and public hospitals (89) in Mexico. Study variables were age, gender, type of epilepsy, etiology, number of seizures, paraclinical studies, and treatment. We compare epidemiological and social data between public and private hospitals in epilepsy care. Information was captured in Excel and analyzed in SPSS. Results: A total of 554 patients from the private hospital and 10,852 patients from the public hospitals were treated. In private hospitals, we found that there is a smaller sample of patients, less family history of epilepsy, and increased diagnosis of epileptic syndromes. Also, there are more genetic etiologies, less structural etiologies, and less drug resistance. Besides, more epilepsy surgery, and access to paraclinical studies. In public hospitals, we found that there is a larger sample of patients, more family history of epilepsy, and fewer diagnoses of epileptic syndromes. Also, there are fewer genetic etiologies, more structural etiologies, and more drug resistance. Besides, less epilepsy surgery, and less access to paraclinical studies. Conclusion: In private hospitals, we found more epilepsy surgery and access to paraclinical studies than in public hospitals. In Mexico, programs have been created to unify both systems and achieve the same diagnostic and treatment opportunities.