[A descriptive analysis of the demand for ambulatory neurological care in the health district of Huelva].

INTRODUCTION

In recent years the demand for ambulatory neurological care has risen. Studying this situation can help to improve health care planning and the quality of the referrals from primary care.

AIM

To analyse a number of variables involved in the first visits referred from primary care to neurology services.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective, descriptive study in which data was consecutively collected about 500 new patients from primary care who had appointments for a visit to general neurology services in the health district of the province of Huelva. Demographic features, the reason for referral, initial diagnoses and the case resolution index were analysed.

RESULTS

Mean age was 51 years old, and patients were predominantly female (63.4%). The most frequent diagnoses were headaches (42.8%) and cognitive impairment (12%). In 8.2% of cases the referred patients had no neurological pathology. Data showed that 40.2% were discharged after the first visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The demographic characteristics and reasons for the visit were similar to those previously published on other regions in Spain. The high percentage of direct discharges translates into a poor selection of the patients referred from primary care. Improving the quality of referrals would make it possible to enhance the efficiency of ambulatory neurological care.