Summary: | Background: It was found that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
contributed to changes in the epidemiologic and symptomatic pattern of some neurologic disorders.
Objectives: The present study investigated the frequency of seizures and their characteristics from
February to August 2020 (the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) compared to the same period the
year before.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was performed on patients with
seizures in Poursina hospital in Guilan province, Iran, between February and August 2020 and the
same period the year before. Patients with seizures at the beginning or during hospitalization with at
least one seizure in the desired period were included in the study.
Results: The increase in seizure frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic versus last year was
statistically significant (P=0.014). It also observed a significant difference in seizure etiology
(P=0.032), types (P<0.005), and history of seizure (P<0.001). The most prevalent causes of seizures
and stroke before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. The convulsive status
epilepticus increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period by 4-fold. Before the pandemic, the
patients had a higher prevalence of seizure history.
Conclusion: The frequency of seizures, their types, and etiology changed during the COVID-19
pandemic, signifying that COVID-19 can influence on hospital burden of the seizure population.
|