Medium‐term effects of COVID‐19 pandemic on epilepsy: A follow‐up study

Abstract

Objective To analyze the medium‐term impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on epilepsy patients, focusing on psychological effects and seizure control. Methods Prospective follow‐up study to evaluate the medium‐term effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on a cohort of epilepsy patients from a tertiary hospital previously surveyed during the first peak of the pandemic. Between July 1, 2020, and August 30, 2020, the patients answered an online 19‐item questionnaire, HADS, and PSIQ scales. Short‐ and medium‐term effects of the pandemic confinement and the perception of telemedicine were compared. Results 153 patients completed the questionnaire, mean ± SD age, 47.6 ± 19.3 years; 49.7% women. Depression was reported by 43 patients, significantly more prevalent than in the short‐term analysis (29.2% vs. 19.7%; p = .038). Anxiety (38.1% vs. 36.1%; p = 0.749) and insomnia (28.9% vs. 30.9%, p = .761) remained highly prevalent. Seventeen patients reported an increase in seizure frequency (11.1% vs. 9.1%, p = .515). The three factors independently associated with an increase in seizure frequency in the medium term were drug‐resistant epilepsy (odds ratio [OR] = 8.2, 95% CI 2.06–32.52), depression (OR = 6.46, 95% CI 1.80–23.11), and a reduction in income (OR = 5.47, 95% CI 1.51–19.88). A higher proportion of patients found telemedicine unsatisfactory (11.2% vs. 2.4%), and a lower percentage (44.8% vs. 56.8%) found it very satisfactory ( p = .005). Conclusions Depression rates increased significantly after the first wave. Depression, drug‐resistant epilepsy, and a reduction in family income were independent risk factors for an increased seizure frequency. Perception of telemedicine worsened, indicating need for re‐adaptation.

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Psychological Health and Influencing Factors Among 2628 Asymptomatic and Mild COVID-19 Patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital

“…33,34 Additionally, chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and mental disorders are closely linked to poorer mental health outcomes, underscoring the importance of holistic management of both physical and mental health in these patients. [35][36][37] Moreover, noise and lighting issues in FSH significantly exacerbated patients' psychological health problems, consistent with the findings of Stansfeld et al in similar environments. 38 However, our study further reveals the roles of factors such as education level and electronic device usage in influencing mental health, which have been less explored in previous research.…”

Resilience of adolescents and teenagers with self-limited and genetic-generalized epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The timing of assessing symptoms may also be of importance. One group compared the initial peak of COVID-19 and mid-pandemic and noted that depression rates increased significantly after the first wave [23] . Our questionnaires were administered once, at variable times over a 1-year period, and therefore the time of testing was not standardized in each patient and there may have been variability of symptoms at different time points during the pandemic.…”

Acute to Chronic Electro-Clinical Manifestations of Neuro-COVID and the Long-Haul Consequences in People With Epilepsy: A Review

“…In a recent survey, among 153 patients with epilepsy depression rose from 19.7% at the beginning of the pandemic to 29.2%. Anxiety and insomnia did not increase significantly but remained high, and 17 patients (11.1%) presented increased seizure frequency [ 44 ].…”