Disparities in Health and Outcomes for People with Epilepsy
Disparities and inequities in many disabling and neurological conditions have been understudied – hampering health equity efforts. In response to this need, I lead work that combines traditional statistical approaches as well as novel machine learning techniques to identify inequities among people living with seizures/epilepsy as an exemplar for chronic disabling conditions. This work has identified novel inequities in diagnosis, co-occurring health conditions, specialist care, and pharmacotherapy treatment. This work has uncovered how the confluence of individual-, community-, and structural-level factors influence care and outcomes for patients with epilepsy.
Wyatt P. Bensken, PhD
Research Investigator & Adjunct Assistant Professor of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
My research interests include health disparities, health inequities, social determinants of health, and complex chronic conditions.
Publications
Disparities in Adherence and Emergency Department Utilization Among People with Epilepsy: A Machine Learning Approach
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Antiseizure Medications Among People With Epilepsy on Medicaid: A Case of Potential Inequities
The Significance of the Increased Incidence of New Onset Seizures and Epilepsy After a COVID-19 Infection
A Framework for Health Equity in People Living with Epilepsy
Trends in Antiseizure Medication Use: Implications for Practice and Clinical Care
Burden of Chronic and Acute Conditions and Symptoms in People With Epilepsy
Objective: People with epilepsy, one-third of whom in the US are on Medicaid, experience a wide range of chronic and physical …
Markers of Quality Care for Newly Diagnosed People With Epilepsy on Medicaid
Background: For newly diagnosed people with epilepsy (PWE), proper treatment is important to improve outcomes, yet limited data exist …
Delays and disparities in diagnosis for adults with epilepsy: Findings from U.S. Medicaid data
Objective: To identify disparities in care pathways and time from first seizure to epilepsy diagnosis, we examined 2010–2014 Medicaid …
