Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States

Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States

Epilepsy is a common neurologic condition characterized by recurrent seizures, and its impact extends beyond the brain. It can affect safety, driving, work, school, mental health, and quality of life. While effective treatments exist, outcomes do not depend only on the type of epilepsy or the medicines used. Where a person lives can also shape how quickly they receive care, whether they are seen by a neurologist, and whether they can access specialized testing and epilepsy centers.

This study examined whether rural residence is associated with worse hospital-based epilepsy outcomes in the United States. The findings suggest that patients from the most rural counties face substantially higher risks of death during hospitalization, status epilepticus at presentation, and longer hospital stays, even after accounting for many demographic, socioeconomic, and hospital factors. The results also point to an important role for structural barriers in access to care.