Smoking prevalence and seizure control in Chinese males with epilepsy

Abstract

Smoking has a negative effect on most diseases, yet it is under-investigated in people with epilepsy; thus its role is not clear in the general population with epilepsy. We performed a retrospective pilot study on males with epilepsy to determine the smoking rate and its relationship with seizure control using univariate analysis to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and also used a multi-variate logistic regression model. The smoking rate in our sample of 278 individuals was 25.5%, which is lower than the general Chinese population smoking rate among males of 52.1%. We used two classifications: the first classified epilepsy as generalized, or by presumed topographic origin (temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital). The second classified the dominant seizure type of an individual as generalized tonic clonic seizure (GTCS), myoclonic seizure (MS), complex partial seizure (CPS), simple partial seizure (SPS), and secondary GTCS (sGTCS). The univariable analysis of satisfactory seizure control profile and smoking rate in both classifications showed a trend towards a beneficial effect of smoking although most were not statistically significant. Considering medication is an important confounding factor that would largely influence seizure control, we also conducted multi-variable analysis for both classifications with drug numbers and dosage. The result of our model also suggested that smoking is a protective factor. Our findings seem to suggest that smoking could have a potential role in seizure control although confounders need exploration particularly in view of the potential long term health effects. Replication in a much larger sample is needed as well as case control studies to elucidate this issue.

Current Cigarette Smoking Is Associated With a High Seizure Frequency and Anxiety Symptoms in People With Epilepsy

“…The present study revealed that the overall prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 23.5% in adults with epilepsy, which is slightly lower than that (26.6%) in general adults in China (11). Men and high seizure frequency were found to be related to cigarette smoking in adults with epilepsy.…”

“…Additionally, in this cohort, current smokers were more likely to suffer from anxiety symptoms than nonsmokers. China has a high prevalence of cigarette smoking, and the general smoking rate among Chinese men has reached 52.1% 11). In Chinese culture, cigarette smoking is a commonly accepted social activity and has many social benefits (22).…”

“…Additionally, smokers with epilepsy were reported to have a higher risk of suffering from refractory epilepsy than nonsmoking PWE (12). However, in a recent study from West China, a beneficial effect of cigarette smoking on seizure control was found (11).…”

“…Picard et al reported that the global prevalence of cigarette smoking was 32.1% among 429 people with epilepsy (PWE), significantly higher than the 19.0% smoking rate reported in the general population in Switzerland (10). However, a recent study in West China found that the prevalence of cigarette smoking among men with epilepsy was lower than that among general adult men in China, 25.5% compared to 52%, respectively (11).…”

Risk factors for suicidal tendency in people with epilepsy in China: a case–control study

“…Considering the heavy burden and the serious consequences suicidality has on society, it is necessary and of interest to identify the clinical correlation of suicidal tendency in this population reveal the associated factors that may eventually lead to better control and prevention of suicide in PWE. Thus, we conducted this study using the database of the West China Hospital epilepsy center 24 – 26 .…”