Neurology Research International最新文献

{"title":"High Prevalence of Poststroke Depression in Ischemic Stroke Patients in Ethiopia.","authors":"Fikru Tsehayneh,&nbsp;Abenet Tafesse","doi":"10.1155/2020/8834299","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8834299","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is limited information and research carried out regarding the prevalence of poststroke depression (PSD) in the study area. Psychiatric disorders complicate a significant proportion of patients suffering from stroke. This of course have a great negative impact on our knowledge about poststroke depression in Ethiopia, and poststroke depression complicates a significant number of stroke patients and their rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study on all patients aged above 18 years and diagnosed with stroke in the past two years who attended the neurology follow-up clinics of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) and Zewditu Memorial Hospital (ZMH) was done by using a structured questionnaire containing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression screening tool.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Of 84 patients who were eligible for the study, 32.2% of patients have depressive symptoms. Women (OR 0.001, 95% CI 0.12-0.87) and aphasic patients (OR 0.034, 95% CI 0.19-1.27) were more likely to have depressive symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Depressive symptoms after stroke are common in Ethiopian patients. Our study demonstrates female and aphasic patients are more likely to screen positive for PSD. Hence, screening all poststroke patients with different screening tools is practical, and further studies are needed to assess the validity of these screening tools and also to assess PSD as a predictor of stroke outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"8834299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/8834299","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38591219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nonadherence to Antiepileptic Medications and Its Determinants among Epileptic Patients at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2019: An Institutional-Based Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Misganaw Tilahun,&nbsp;Netsanet Habte,&nbsp;Kenean Mekonnen,&nbsp;Mengesha Srahbzu,&nbsp;Daniel Ayelegne","doi":"10.1155/2020/8886828","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8886828","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nonadherence to antiepileptic medication is the extent of a patient's passive failure to follow the prescribed therapeutic regimen. The prevalence and impact of nonadherence to antiepileptic medication are high globally. The main purpose of this study was to assess nonadherence to antiepileptic medications and its associated factors among epileptic patients at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 epileptic patients at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, who were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by face to face interviews using a structured pretested questionnaire. Data were entered into EPI Info version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. The data were described by descriptive statistics. Binary logistic regression analysis was used as a model, and variables with a <i>p</i> value of less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant with nonadherence to antiepileptic medications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 356 epileptic patients participated in the study yielding a response rate of 97.5%. The overall prevalence of nonadherence to antiepileptic medications among epileptic patients attending at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital was 38.5% (95% CI: 33.1-43.8). Divorced and/or widowed marital status (AOR: 3.38 (95% CI: 1.54, 7.44)), treatment duration of 3-5 years (AOR = 3.58 (95% CI: 1.38, 9.29)), treatment duration of 5 and above years (AOR: 3.49 (95% CI: 1.53, 7.95)), comorbidity (AOR: 2.42 (95% CI: 1.08, 5.43)), side effects of antiepileptic medications (AOR: 3.36 (95% CI: 1.67, 6.74)), absence of health information (AOR: 1.98 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.52)), epilepsy-related stigma (AOR: 2.81 (95% CI: 1.57, 5.02)), and negative attitude towards antiepileptic medications (AOR: 2.46 (95% CI: 1.36, 4.45)) were significantly associated with nonadherence to antiepileptic medications.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Prevalence of nonadherence to antiepileptic medications among epileptic patients at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital was found to be high. Hence, giving health information about epilepsy and its management will help to reduce antiepileptic medications' nonadherence.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"8886828"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/8886828","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38608326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medication Beliefs and Adherence to Antiseizure Medications.","authors":"Devender Bhalla,&nbsp;Elham Lotfalinezhad,&nbsp;Fatemeh Amini,&nbsp;Ahmad Delbari,&nbsp;Reza Fadaye-Vatan,&nbsp;Vida Saii,&nbsp;Kurosh Gharagozli","doi":"10.1155/2020/6718915","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6718915","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;The primary objective of our study was to determine the nature of medication beliefs and their association with adherence to antiseizure medications (ASMs) among elderly epilepsy patients. Our secondary objective was to enhance the psychometric properties and factor structure parameters of the Beliefs about Medications Questionnaire (BMQ) adapted to epilepsy and affected aged subjects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A population-based survey was performed in which older adults (≥60 years of age) were invited for a free face-to-face consultation with the specialists as well as for the collection of necessary data. The eligible subjects were those who are affected with epilepsy and having epileptic seizures of any type. In addition, the participants were required to be of any sex, currently under treatment with ASMs, resident of Tehran, and able and interested to participate independently. All were carefully examined with a reasonably detailed case-history examination. Two Persian questionnaires used were Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and BMQ. Those with a MARS score of ≥6 were considered as adherent to ASMs. All data were described in descriptive terms. We did a group comparison of means and proportions for all possible independent variables between adherents and nonadherents. Then, we did a hierarchical multiple linear regression. For this, independent variables were categorized into three different blocks: (a) sociodemographic block (Block-1), (b) treatment side-effect block (Block-2), and (c) BMQ block that included ten items of the BMQ scale (Block-3). We also did a forward step-wise linear regression by beginning with an empty model. We also estimated the psychometric properties and factor structure parameters of BMQ and its two subdomains.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Of all (&lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt; = 123, mean age: 63.3 years, 74.0% males), 78.0% were adherent (mean score: 7.0, 95% CI 6.2-7.8) to ASMs. The MARS scores were not different between males and females. The mean BMQ score was 23.4 (95% CI 19.8-27.0) with the mean need score of 20.0 (95% CI 18.0-22.0) and mean concern score of 16.5 (95% CI 14.3-18.7). A positive need-concern differential was 20.4%. Upon hierarchical regression, the adjusted &lt;i&gt;R&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; for Block-1 was 33.8%, and it was 53.8% for Block-2 and 92.2% for Block-3. Upon forward step-wise linear regression, we found that \"ASMs disrupt my life\" (&lt;i&gt;ß&lt;/i&gt; -1.9, ES = -1.1, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=0.008) as the only belief associated with adherence. The alpha coefficient of BMQ was 0.81.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Ours is one of the very few studies that evaluated medication beliefs and their association with adherence to ASMs among elderly epilepsy patients in a non-western context. In our context, medication beliefs are likely to have an independent role in effecting adherence to ASMs, particularly the concern that \"ASMs disrupt life.\" Treating physicians should cultivate good conscienc","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"6718915"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/6718915","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38683848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurological Components in Coronavirus Induced Disease: A Review of the Literature Related to SARS, MERS, and COVID-19","authors":"Jonathan Adrián Zegarra-Valdivia, B. Chino-Vilca, T. Tairo-Cerron, V. Munive, C. Lastarria-Perez, R. Ames-Guerrero","doi":"10.1155/2020/6587875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6587875","url":null,"abstract":"Background. COVID-19 has been declared the pandemic of the 21st century, causing more than 45,000 deaths worldwide. The abrupt release of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated the potential infection, morbidity, and lethality of zoonotic viruses and human-to-human transmission. Fever, cough, and fatigue are reported as the most common symptoms of the disease, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, and also signs of severe illness, such as shock, acute cardiac injury, and renal lesions, are described. Considering the previous works related to human coronavirus and other zoonotic infections, it has been demonstrated that the neuroinvasive propensity is a common characteristic of coronaviruses, especially in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Objective. In the present review, we analyzed the potential neurological components involved in coronavirus infections and detailed the neurological syndromes related to COVID-19. We also examined the mechanism of transmission and CNS pathology related to other viruses with similar structures such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Methods. A comprehensive search of different original articles and clinical, experimental, and review studies was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. We selected 92 articles that have been published in journals or preprints according to the search words and the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. COVID-19 patients may experience neurological symptoms such as headache, impaired mental status, confusion, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, anosmia/hyposmia, and dysgeusia/hypogeusia as initial symptoms, with more severe manifestations such as seizures or coma later on. The neurological signs shown are clinical symptoms similar to those reported for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Given that both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have similar structures, these viruses may share comparable neurological symptoms and similar progression. Coronaviruses are linked to central nervous system dysfunction, and they are also reported as the probable cause of multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, and meningitis.","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88626449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurocognitive Functioning among Children with Sickle Cell Anemia Attending SCA Clinic at MNH, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.","authors":"Limi O Matondo,&nbsp;Edward Kija,&nbsp;Karim P Manji","doi":"10.1155/2020/3636547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3636547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Children with sickle cell anemia are at a higher risk of developing neurological sequelae like abnormal intellectual functioning, poor academic performance, abnormal fine motor functioning, and attentional deficits. There is a paucity of data about neurocognitive impairment among children with sickle cell anemia in Tanzania. Recognition of the magnitude of neurocognitive impairment will help to provide insight in the causative as well as preventive aspects of the same. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with neurocognitive impairment in children with sickle cell anemia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectional comparative study between children with SCA and a control group of the hemoglobin AA sibling. It was carried out in Muhimbili National Hospital during a five-month period. The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test (ROCF) which is used to test memory and visual special functions and KOH block design tools that have been previously validated through another study locally were used. Additional information on demographic characteristics was also collected using a predetermined questionnaire. Proportions and comparisons of means were used to examine associations between neurocognitive impairment and independent variables for associated factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 313 children were included in the final analysis. Among all the participants, the majority of the participants in the sickle cell group were of the age group 14-15 years (45.9%). In the comparison group, the majority were of the age group 9-10 years (43.8%). The neurocognitive scores in children with sickle cell anemia were significantly different from the normal siblings. In the copy ROCF, the neurocognitive function in SCA participants was 68.2% below the mean as compared to 45% of their counterparts, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001. Additionally, there was no difference in memory in children with SCA compared to normal siblings (14.8% vs. 12.5%, respectively, <i>p</i>=0.606). Children with SCA had a higher proportion of impaired IQ (85.4%) as compared to children without SCA (72.5%), and the difference was statistically significant, <i>p</i>=0.009. Factors associated with neurocognitive impairment were age above 13 years, BMI, and absenteeism from school. <i>Conclusion and Recommendation</i>. Children with SCA had more impairment in terms of copying and IQ. We recommend assessment at the younger age group, increased sample size in future studies, and long-term cohort follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"3636547"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/3636547","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38399828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pattern-Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials Tests in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with and without Diabetic Retinopathy.","authors":"Raghda S Al-Najjar,&nbsp;Nehaya M Al-Aubody,&nbsp;Salah Z Al-Asadi,&nbsp;Majid Alabbood","doi":"10.1155/2020/1014857","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1014857","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Currently, diabetic retinopathy (DR) has a wide recognition as a neurovascular rather than a microvascular diabetic complication with an increasing need for enhanced detection approaches. Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEPs) test, as an objective electrophysiological measure of the optic nerve and retinal function, can be of great value in the detection of diabetic retinal changes.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The use of two sizes of checkerboard PRVEPs testing to detect any neurological changes in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without a clinically detected DR. Also, to compare the results according to the candidate age, duration, and glycemic status of T2DM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 50 candidates as group A with T2DM and did not have a clinically detected DR and 50 candidates as group B with T2DM and had a clinically detected early DR and 50 candidates as controls who were neither diabetic nor had any other medical or ophthalmic condition that might affect PRVEPs test results. The PRVEPs were recorded in the consultant unit of ophthalmology in Almawani Teaching Hospital. Monocular PRVEPs testing of both eyes was done by using large (60 min) and small (15 min) checks to measure N75 latency and P100 latency and amplitude.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was a statistically significant P100 latency delay and P100 amplitude reduction in both groups A and B in comparison with the controls. The difference between groups A and B was also significant. In both test results of groups A and B, the proportions of abnormal P100 latency were higher than those of P100 amplitude with a higher abnormal proportions in 15 min test.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The PRVEP test detected neurological changes, mainly as conductive alterations affecting mostly the foveal region prior to any overt DR clinical changes, and these alterations were heightened by the presence of DR clinical changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"1014857"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/1014857","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38363747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Effects of Number of Repetitions and Number of Hours of Shaping Practice during Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial\".","authors":"Auwal Abdullahi","doi":"10.1155/2020/1256231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1256231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/5496408.].</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"1256231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/1256231","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38363748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minimizing the Diagnostic Delay in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Role of Nonneurologist Practitioners.","authors":"Martin Matharan,&nbsp;Stéphane Mathis,&nbsp;Sarah Bonabaud,&nbsp;Louis Carla,&nbsp;Antoine Soulages,&nbsp;Gwendal Le Masson","doi":"10.1155/2020/1473981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1473981","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), usually fatal in a few years, is a neurodegenerative disorder where the diagnostic delay, although variable according to the studies, remains too long. The main objective of this study was to determine the average time to diagnose ALS and the role of each physician, general practitioner (GP), or specialist (neurologist or not) involved in the management of these patients. The secondary objective was to propose some simple schemes to quickly identify an ALS suspicion with the aim to reduce this delay. <i>Patients and Methods</i>. This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic delay (and other intermediate delays) of 90 ALS patients registered in the ALS Center of Bordeaux (France) in 2013. The main clinical signs encountered (and their order of appearance) were studied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average diagnostic delay was 17 months, with a median diagnostic delay of 12 months. The average diagnostic delay was 2.7 months between the first symptoms and the first complaint to GP, followed by an additional 6.5 month delay before the patient's first visit to a neurologist. This period could be shortened, especially if GP performed additional tests quickly (<i>p</i>=0.01), as the time spent consulting various specialists often extends this crucial step. Overall, diagnostic delay accounted for 40% of the total duration of the disease progression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In relation to total survival time, the diagnostic delay of ALS appears to be proportionately very long, sometimes longer than that observed in previous studies (because it also included the total delay to diagnostic or treatment initiation). The rapid execution of useful additional tests by the first medical doctor, often GP (with the help of a neurologist), considerably reduces the diagnostic delay. The central role of GP seems to be crucial in the management of patients with ALS. The main objective is, of course, to initiate appropriate treatment and care as soon as possible. Finally, based on our results, we also provide a short practical diagram to help nonneurologist practitioners to quickly discuss the diagnosis of ALS in case of some specific symptoms (\"red flags\").</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"1473981"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/1473981","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37977168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electricity, Neurology, and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Looking Back, Looking Ahead.","authors":"Vijay Renga","doi":"10.1155/2020/5260820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5260820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electricity and neurology evolved synchronously over the past few centuries. This article looks at their origins and their journey into noninvasive brain stimulation technique of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which is now popular in neuroscience research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"5260820"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/5260820","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37867189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epilepsy Treatment Outcome and Its Predictors among Ambulatory Patients with Epilepsy at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.","authors":"Ameha Zewudie,&nbsp;Yitagesu Mamo,&nbsp;Desalegn Feyissa,&nbsp;Mohammed Yimam,&nbsp;Gosaye Mekonen,&nbsp;Ahmed Abdela","doi":"10.1155/2020/8109858","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8109858","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Epilepsy is among the most common neurological disorders which is highly treatable with currently available antiepileptic drugs at a reasonable price. In Ethiopia, despite a number of studies revealed high prevalence of epilepsy, little is known on predictors of poorly controlled seizures. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess epilepsy treatment outcome and its predictors among patients with epilepsy on follow-up at the ambulatory care unit of Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving patient interview and chart review was conducted from March 10 to April 10, 2018. Drug use patterns and sociodemographic data of the study participants were accustomed to descriptive statistics. Backward logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors of poor seizure control. Statistical significance was considered at <i>p</i> value <0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From a total of 143 studied patients with epilepsy, 60.8% had uncontrolled seizures. Monotherapy (79%) was commonly used for the treatment of seizures, of which phenobarbital was the most commonly utilized single anticonvulsant drug (62.9%). The majority (72.7%) of the patients had developed one or more antiepileptic-related adverse effects. Medium medication adherence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.4; 95% CI = 1.52-19.23; <i>p</i>=0.009), poor medication adherence (AOR = 8.16; 95% CI = 3.04-21.90; <i>p</i>=0.001), head injury before seizure occurrence (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI = 1.25-19.27; <i>p</i>=0.02), and seizure attacks ≥4 episodes/week before AEDs initiation (AOR = 8.52; % CI = 2.41-13.45; <i>p</i>=0.001) were the predictors of uncontrolled seizure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on our findings, more than half of the patients with epilepsy had poorly controlled seizures. Nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs, high frequency of seizure attack before AEDs initiation, and history of a head injury before the occurrence of seizure were predictors of uncontrolled seizure. Patient medication adherence should be increased by the free access of antiepileptic drugs and attention should be given for the patients with a history of head injury and high frequency of seizure attacks before AEDs initiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19124,"journal":{"name":"Neurology Research International","volume":"2020 ","pages":"8109858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2020-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/8109858","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37867190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}