Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38016915›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2024

Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco: What has changed during the last 30 years?

Alessandra Nicoletti, Calogero Edoardo Cicero, Valeria Todaro, Chiara Colli, Francesco Cosmi, Mariella Anselmi, Cintia Caicedo, Estela Vilte, Walter Mario Camargo, Alessandro Bartoloni and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Alessandra NicolettiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Calogero Edoardo CiceroDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Valeria TodaroDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3477-4843
Chiara ColliDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Francesco CosmiCenter of Anthropological Research of the Teko Guaraní, Gutierrez, Bolivia.
Mariella AnselmiDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
Cintia CaicedoCentro de Epidemiología Comunitaria y Medicina Tropical (CECOMET), Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
Estela VilteCenter of Anthropological Research of the Teko Guaraní, Gutierrez, Bolivia.
Walter Mario CamargoMedicalCenter Neurocenter, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Alessandro BartoloniDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Elizabeth Blanca Crespo GomezHospital Universitario Hernández Vera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Loretta GiulianoDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2512-6972
University of Catania · ITUniversity of Florence · ITOspedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria · ITUniversidad Nacional del Oriente · BO

Funding

Sanofi's Access to Medicines Department
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveNeurocysticercosis (NCC) is considered the major cause of epilepsy in endemic regions. In the rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco prevalence of NCC among people with epilepsy (PWE) was 27.4%, according to a population-based survey carried out in 1994. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Epilepsy Associated with Tonic-Clonic Seizures (EATCS) and to evaluate the prevalence of NCC among PWE in the rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco after 30 years.

methodsTwenty-two rural communities (total population 12 852) were involved in the study. PWE in the study area were ascertained by multiple sources and the diagnosis was confirmed by a neurologist. All PWE identified were invited to undergo brain CT scan examination and diagnosis of NCC was sought according to the revised Del Brutto criteria.

resultsSeventy-eight PWE (30 men, 38.4%; mean age at onset was 12.7 ± 13.2 years) with EATCS were identified giving a crude prevalence of 6.1/1000 (95% CI: 4.7-7.3). Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the study was interrupted in 2020 and only 36 PWE (46%) of the whole sample underwent CT scan examination. Of these, 8 (22.2%) fulfilled the criteria for NCC of whom 6 (75%) presented only single or multiple calcifications. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study reassessing the prevalence of NCC among PWE after 30 years, in the same rural area and using a population-based design. T. solium is still endemic in the Bolivian Chaco where more than 20% of EATCS may be attributable to NCC. Our findings show a substantially unchanged prevalence of NCC over the past 30 years despite improved knowledge, underlining the need for active intervention programs to control T. solium transmission in this area. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Neurocysticercosis is still endemic in the Bolivian Chaco. The proportion of epilepsy attributable to neurocysticercosis is about 22%. Systematic efforts towards elimination of neurocysticercosis in these areas should be implemented.

Indexed as

EpilepsyNeurocysticercosisAdolescentAdultBoliviaChildHumansMalePrevalenceSeizuresYoung Adultinfectious diseasesneglected tropical diseasestropical health

Identifiers

PMID38016915
PMCPMC10984303
OpenAlexW4389108626

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.