Effects of resective epilepsy surgery on the social determinants of health

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to analyze changes in the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery in Mexico. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 102 adult patients who underwent brain resection for focal epilepsy (2002-2014) with at least 4 years of follow-up; described clinical variables (age, race, sex, age of onset of epilepsy, age at the time of surgery, type of surgery, side of surgery) and sociodemographic variables including education, income, race/ethnicity, occupation, and marital status. Statistical analysis Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results 54.9% (56) of the participants were women, with a mean age of 38.2 (±9.6) years at the time of the survey. The average and mean duration of drug-resistant epilepsy before surgery after diagnosis was 19.6 (±9.3) years; 77.9% (77) had temporal lobe surgeries and 24.5% (25) had extra-temporal lobe surgeries; 80.4% (82) and 19.6% (20) of patients were classified as Engel I and Engel II, respectively, with at least 4 years of postoperative follow-up. Education level (26.9%, p= Conclusions Following focal resective epilepsy surgery there was a significant increase in the education level, financial income and employment at 4 years’ postoperative follow-up.