Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seizure Control Status in Patients With Epilepsy

Authors

A A Asadi-Pooya, Department of Epileptology, Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz, University of Medical Sciences; Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Seyed Ali Nabavizadeh, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Mohsen Farazdaghi, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-16-2022

Comments

This is the author's final published version in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, Volume 47, Issue 6, Nov. & Dec. 2022, Pg. 588 - 593.

The published version is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.30476/ijms.2022.94056.2532. Copyright © Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that patients with epilepsy (PWE) perceived significant disruption in the quality and provision of care due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of this pandemic on seizure control status and changes in seizure frequency in PWE.

Methods:A consecutive sample of adult PWE registered in the database of Shiraz Epilepsy Center (Shiraz, Iran) was included in the study. In July 2021, phone interviews were conducted with all selected patients. Information such as age, sex, last seizure, seizure type, and frequency during the 12 months before the study, and history of COVID-19 contraction was extracted. The seizure control status of the patients in 2019 (pre-pandemic) was compared with that during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with the Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s Chi squared test. P

Results: A total of 158 patients were included in the study, out of which 62 (39.2%) patients had a stable seizure control status, 47 (29.7%) had fewer seizures, and 50 (31.6%) had more seizures. Breakthrough seizures were reported by 32 (34.4%) patients. Seizure frequency increased in 18 (27.7%) and decreased in 46 (70.7%) patients.

Conclusion: Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has not been a major precipitating factor nor has it affected the seizure control status of PWE. In treated epilepsy, a fluctuating course with periods of seizure freedom followed by relapses is part of its natural history.

Recommended Citation

Asadi-Pooya, A A; Nabavizadeh, Seyed Ali; and Farazdaghi, Mohsen, "Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seizure Control Status in Patients With Epilepsy" (2022). Department of Neurology Faculty Papers. Paper 301.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/neurologyfp/301

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Language

English