Clinical Profile and Comorbidity of Epilepsy in El Minia, Egypt: A Hospital-Based Study

Zydan, Safaa Ali; Eldeen, Eman Saif; Abo-Elkheir, Omaima I.; Osman, Marwa Abdellah

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2022.255209

Clinical Profile and Comorbidity of Epilepsy in El Minia, Egypt: A Hospital-Based Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2022.255209

Abstract

Background: Classifying epileptic cases based on in-depth study and analyzing groups of different ages and gender can enhance the accuracy of diagnosing epileptic patients.
Objective: This research aimed to identify the different clinical profiles of epilepsy and its comorbid disorders.
Methods: A one-year hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted on hundreds of epileptic patients including a detailed history, clinical examination, electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging (MRI), and psychometric assessment.
Results: There were two groups including 56.0% males and 44 % females. 83.5% of patients were rural residents. Generalized onset seizures were 73.5%, focal-onset seizures reported 20.5% and 6.0% unknown type. Abnormal EEG occurred in 77.5% and 22.5% of patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings. Structural causes of epilepsy were recorded in only 20.5%. Monotherapy was applied to 80.5% and 19.0% received polytherapy. The treatment gap was reported at 17% with a significant statistical difference between age groups. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was recorded in 15.0%, migraine was reported in 12.0%, cerebral palsy (CP) was recorded in 7.5%, and intellectual disability was reported in 3.0%. A significant negative correlation between the IQ level and both duration of epilepsy and seizure frequency/month was reported. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was reported between the duration of epilepsy and seizure frequency/month.
Conclusion: Epilepsy is characteristic in our patients and shows age and sex differences in terms of many features. Most of the patients were receiving monotherapy. There were patients with a positive treatment gap, ADHD, and intellectual disability (ID). Structural causes of epilepsy were recorded among more than a fifth of patients.

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