Posters
Impact of Epilepsy on Growth Metrics in the Rio Grande Valley: A Retrospective Chart Review
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Desiree Brewer
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 3)
Staff
Discipline/Specialty (Author 3)
Medical Education
Academic Level (Author 4)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 5)
Medical Student
Discipline Track
Patient Care
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a growing concern within the pediatric population, with about 1 and 150 children being diagnosed within the first ten years of life. Evidence has suggested that epilepsy may impact growth patterns if developed during adolescence, although the role of ethnicity is not well documented. Here, we sought to conduct a pilot study evaluating the impact of epilepsy on growth metrics in a primarily Hispanic pediatric population. We hypothesized that Hispanic pediatric epilepsy patients would exhibit impaired growth patterns, compared to non-epileptic Hispanic peers. This impairment is hypothesized to be influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and nutritional deficiencies within the community.
Materials & Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients between the ages of 1 and 18 within the UTRGV Health System during the time period of January 1st, 2019 – January 1st, 2024 with a diagnosis of epilepsy [n=331]. We categorized data based on epileptic diagnoses using five categories: Epilepsy, Idiopathic Epilepsy, Epileptic Spasms, Epileptic Syndromes, and Other. Children within the same age range and during the same time period who came in for a well child visit were used as controls [n=x]. For all evaluated charts, we reviewed insurance classification, age, sex, height, weight, growth percentile, and body mass index. We evaluated differences between groups using multi-variate analyses in SAS.
Results: This will be completed after submitted to statistician and full data is collected.
Our preliminary results show an average age all epileptic patients i was 11, with an average height and weight of 122.36 cm and 39.83 kg, respectively.
Conclusion: Our preliminary analysis suggests that Epilepsy and its associated conditions have a negative correlation with growth metrics. The limited access to healthcare and resources in the Rio Grande Valley could be a possible explanation for why there is an increased prevalence of epilepsy and poorer growth and developmental outcomes. These relationships need to be further analyzed in order to promote much needed change in our Hispanic pediatric population.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Brewer, Desiree; Uzoma, Chantal; Baker, Kelsey; Burrell, Antoinette; Walker, Erica; Williams, Naya; and Elizondo, Victoria, "Impact of Epilepsy on Growth Metrics in the Rio Grande Valley: A Retrospective Chart Review" (2025). Research Colloquium. 104.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2024/posters/104
Impact of Epilepsy on Growth Metrics in the Rio Grande Valley: A Retrospective Chart Review
Background: Epilepsy is a growing concern within the pediatric population, with about 1 and 150 children being diagnosed within the first ten years of life. Evidence has suggested that epilepsy may impact growth patterns if developed during adolescence, although the role of ethnicity is not well documented. Here, we sought to conduct a pilot study evaluating the impact of epilepsy on growth metrics in a primarily Hispanic pediatric population. We hypothesized that Hispanic pediatric epilepsy patients would exhibit impaired growth patterns, compared to non-epileptic Hispanic peers. This impairment is hypothesized to be influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and nutritional deficiencies within the community.
Materials & Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients between the ages of 1 and 18 within the UTRGV Health System during the time period of January 1st, 2019 – January 1st, 2024 with a diagnosis of epilepsy [n=331]. We categorized data based on epileptic diagnoses using five categories: Epilepsy, Idiopathic Epilepsy, Epileptic Spasms, Epileptic Syndromes, and Other. Children within the same age range and during the same time period who came in for a well child visit were used as controls [n=x]. For all evaluated charts, we reviewed insurance classification, age, sex, height, weight, growth percentile, and body mass index. We evaluated differences between groups using multi-variate analyses in SAS.
Results: This will be completed after submitted to statistician and full data is collected.
Our preliminary results show an average age all epileptic patients i was 11, with an average height and weight of 122.36 cm and 39.83 kg, respectively.
Conclusion: Our preliminary analysis suggests that Epilepsy and its associated conditions have a negative correlation with growth metrics. The limited access to healthcare and resources in the Rio Grande Valley could be a possible explanation for why there is an increased prevalence of epilepsy and poorer growth and developmental outcomes. These relationships need to be further analyzed in order to promote much needed change in our Hispanic pediatric population.
