A review of people who did not attend an epilepsy clinic and their clinical outcomes

Abstract

PurposeTo review the clinical outcomes of people who failed to attend or failed subsequent follow up in a Primary Care based specialist epilepsy service. MethodThe case notes of 200 people who had failed to initially attend the service or subsequent follow up from 2005 to 2013 were reviewed. ResultsClinical outcomes were determined for 152 people, with the remaining 48 having left the area. For those not attending at all, 64% had no further recorded events, a further 22% came under alternative specialist care and were managed appropriately, 6% were already in remission at the time of referral or at follow up and stayed seizure free. For people attending, but were subsequently lost to follow up, 78% were in remission, had improved seizure frequency, and normal pregnancies. In total 6% of those with poor control came under subsequent Neurological care. ConclusionThis study suggests that for the majority of people who fail to attend or are lost to follow up in a primary care specialist epilepsy clinic, the primary reasons appear to be that they had no further events, improved seizure control or that seizure remission has been achieved. The majority with persistent poor control came under Neurological care.