[Analysis of neurological assistance demand in immigrant population]

Immigration has been a growing phenomenon in recent years due to the aging of the population and demographic pressure of immigration in Spain. This study has aimed to know the community out-patient neurological care pressure of the immigrant population and the differences between them and the Spanish population.

A descriptive, prospective and observational study of neurological out-patient care in the community of the population covered by the Hospital Universitario La Paz over 12 consecutive months was performed. We analyzed three community out-patient clinics of neurology. The variables analyzed were: demographic (age, gender, nationality, stay time in Spain), care variables (visit type, source of consultation, existence of previous diagnosis and attendance at neurological citation) and diagnostic variables (diagnostic group defined in the ICD-9 M).

Of the 4,771 visits analyzed, 8.26% (393) were immigrants. They accounted for a younger population 37.4 +/- 15.2 years, with a larger percentage of women (70.7%; p<0.001). The countries with the greater number of immigrants attended were Ecuador (21.9%) and Colombia (9.9%). Referral to the emergency department was greater for the immigrant patients (p=0.042). Failure to come to the appointment was greater among the immigrant patients (p=0 0.001). Diagnosis of headache and epilepsy were significantly more prevalent in the immigrant population, but syncope, poorly-defined signs and symptoms of those being studied and absence of neurological disorders were more frequent in the Spanish group.

Neurological assistance demand of the immigrant population is that expected according to their demographic weight. The most frequent diagnostic groups among the immigrants are headache and epilepsy.