Background: Global prevalence of epilepsy in Colombia is 1.13percent-flag-change. Despite the people is becoming older in the last decade and the group of 60 years and older are 10percent-flag-change of the general population, there’s little information about this disease in this group of age.Methods and Materials: A cross sectional, descriptive study in two hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia, among 2005-2008 was developed. Data bases and selected clinical records from epileptic patients 65 years and older were reviewed. Demographic data and information related to their condition and treatment was extracted.Results: 179/211 clinical records were reviewed and selected. The median age was 75 years (65-98) and the average of epilepsy onset was 67.5 years (7-93). In 64.4percent-flag-change the disease began after 65 years old. 84percent-flag-change of the seizures were classified as partial and 11percent-flag-change as generalized. The usual diagnosis was Focal Symptomatic Epilepsy (94.4percent-flag-change). Etiology was reported as unknown in 58percent-flag-change andcerebrovascular disease in 34percent-flag-change. First generation antiepileptic drugs were most used (99percent-flag-change) especially Phenytoin (68percent-flag-change). 81/104 patients were not free of seizures.Conclusions: De Novo epilepsy in the elderly is frequent. Inaccuracies in clinical registries, errors in classification, diagnosis and use of medication, lack of cognitive evaluation and adverse event reporting were found; these are major deficiencies in the treatment of epilepsy in the elderly. It’s important to design clinical guidelines to answer the needs of these patients.
