Effect of COVID-19 on seizures and patient behavior in people with epilepsy

Akdağ, Gönül and Uysal, Niyazi and Çetiner, Mustafa and Akkoyun, Arikan Fatma and Canbaz, Kabay Sibel (2024) Effect of COVID-19 on seizures and patient behavior in people with epilepsy. IDEGGYOGYASZATI SZEMLE / CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE, 77 (7-8). pp. 237-246. ISSN 0019-1442

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Abstract

Background and purpose – To evalua¬te the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on seizure frequency and levels of mental distress in individuals with epilepsy and identify potential risk factors associated with increased seizure frequency. Methods – This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Türkiye in May 2021 by phone. Information on epilepsy syndromes, antisei-zure medications, average seizure frequency, and drug resistance was obtained from medical records. A questionnaire was comp-leted that included demographic and clinical characteristics and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale 10 (K-10). From people with epilepsy (PWE), seizure control in the month before the pandemic and perceived stress, sleep changes, changes in adaptation during this period, and whether there were changes in seizure control after the pandemic were questioned. Results – A total of 227 patients were inclu¬ded, and the K-10 score of 81.9% (186/227) of PWE was found to be ≥30. An increase in seizure frequency was detected in 34 (15%) patients. The factors affecting the increase in seizure frequency were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. In the univariate model hesitate to go to the emergency room despite having seizures during the pande¬mic (OR= 8.325; 95% CI: [2.943 - 23.551], p=<0.001) was evaluated as the parameter with the highest risk of increased seizure frequency. In multivariate analyses (enter model) only polytherapy (OR= 2.945; 95% CI: [1.152 – 7.532], p=0.024) was detected as the parameter with increased seizure frequency. Conclusion – One year after the declara¬tion of the pandemic, we found that stress was still common, the frequency of seizures increased. In multivariate analyses, only poly¬therapy was detected as the parameter with increased seizure frequency.

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