Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China
Abstract Background Compared to the healthy people, people with comorbid medical conditions are more vulnerable in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including the people with epilepsy. Besides a consensus recommendation by multi-national epilepsy specialists, the situa...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-10-01
|
| Series: | Acta Epileptologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42494-020-00030-0 |
| _version_ | 1818843674031685632 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhenxu Xiao Ding Ding Shichuo Li Zhen Hong |
| author_facet | Zhenxu Xiao Ding Ding Shichuo Li Zhen Hong |
| author_sort | Zhenxu Xiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Compared to the healthy people, people with comorbid medical conditions are more vulnerable in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including the people with epilepsy. Besides a consensus recommendation by multi-national epilepsy specialists, the situation of the epilepsy management during the pandemic has seldom been reported. Methods The China Association Against Epilepsy carried out an online nationwide survey among its board members in April 2020. One hundred and thirty board members from 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities across China responded to the questionnaires. They reported the situation of clinical practice and gave opinions on the management of people with epilepsy between January 13th and March 31st, 2020, a time period concentrated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Results The proportions of patients consulting through telephone or online (88.4%) and of patients with regular case review (93.9%) were highest in the high-risk area, as reported by the responders. The patients in the high-risk area were more likely to have increased episodes of seizures (17.7%), aggravated psychological disorders (30.2%), and less accessibility to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) (77.2%). Regular ASMs supply (74.6%), medical consultation (69.2%), and psychological aids (29.2%) were urgently needed for people with epilepsy. Conclusions This study demonstrated the most common dilemma faced by people with epilepsy in policy circumstances during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. The opinions raised by Chinese epileptologists may provide reference for epilepsy care in other countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:01:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-212c9f01be4a46e7970f15f8963e1ba0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-4434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:01:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Epileptologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-212c9f01be4a46e7970f15f8963e1ba02022-12-21T20:35:03ZengBMCActa Epileptologica2524-44342020-10-01211710.1186/s42494-020-00030-0Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in ChinaZhenxu Xiao0Ding Ding1Shichuo Li2Zhen Hong3Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityChina Association Against EpilepsyInstitute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityAbstract Background Compared to the healthy people, people with comorbid medical conditions are more vulnerable in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including the people with epilepsy. Besides a consensus recommendation by multi-national epilepsy specialists, the situation of the epilepsy management during the pandemic has seldom been reported. Methods The China Association Against Epilepsy carried out an online nationwide survey among its board members in April 2020. One hundred and thirty board members from 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities across China responded to the questionnaires. They reported the situation of clinical practice and gave opinions on the management of people with epilepsy between January 13th and March 31st, 2020, a time period concentrated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Results The proportions of patients consulting through telephone or online (88.4%) and of patients with regular case review (93.9%) were highest in the high-risk area, as reported by the responders. The patients in the high-risk area were more likely to have increased episodes of seizures (17.7%), aggravated psychological disorders (30.2%), and less accessibility to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) (77.2%). Regular ASMs supply (74.6%), medical consultation (69.2%), and psychological aids (29.2%) were urgently needed for people with epilepsy. Conclusions This study demonstrated the most common dilemma faced by people with epilepsy in policy circumstances during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. The opinions raised by Chinese epileptologists may provide reference for epilepsy care in other countries.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42494-020-00030-0COVID-19EpilepsySurveyConsensusOpinionChina |
| spellingShingle | Zhenxu Xiao Ding Ding Shichuo Li Zhen Hong Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China Acta Epileptologica COVID-19 Epilepsy Survey Consensus Opinion China |
| title | Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China |
| title_full | Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China |
| title_fullStr | Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China |
| title_short | Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China |
| title_sort | management of people with epilepsy during the covid 19 pandemic a national survey among epileptologists in china |
| topic | COVID-19 Epilepsy Survey Consensus Opinion China |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42494-020-00030-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhenxuxiao managementofpeoplewithepilepsyduringthecovid19pandemicanationalsurveyamongepileptologistsinchina AT dingding managementofpeoplewithepilepsyduringthecovid19pandemicanationalsurveyamongepileptologistsinchina AT shichuoli managementofpeoplewithepilepsyduringthecovid19pandemicanationalsurveyamongepileptologistsinchina AT zhenhong managementofpeoplewithepilepsyduringthecovid19pandemicanationalsurveyamongepileptologistsinchina |