Introduction:

therapeutic adherence is variable and can be affected for different reasons.

Objective:

to describe the frequency and factors or barriers related to lack of therapeutic adherence in pediatric patients with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods:

cross-sectional study. 101 patients younger than 18 years, with epilepsy and who had appointments scheduled in 2020 and 2021 were included. The information was collected through a review of records, as well as a telephone interview where a validated scale was applied to record data on adherence. The statistical analysis was descriptive.

Results:

the mean age was 8.2 years; 54.2 were male (54.2%). The highest percentage (75%) had generalized epilepsy and 49.1% received valproic acid. 56.7% presented decompensation of epileptic seizures during the pandemic. 51% had low adherence. The main barrier to non-adherence was not being able to attend the appointment due to COVID-19, followed by financial problems.

Conclusions:

strategies to reduce contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the lack of therapeutic adherence in patients with epilepsy.

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