Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Epilepsy Patients in Ardabil City, Iran, 2022

Purpose: Geographical location, demography, and ethnicity of a person can all affect epilepsy, a neurological condition.The prevalence and clinical features of epilepsy change with population dynamics and lifestyle, which affect healthcare management and policy.This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with epilepsy admitted to Alavi Hospital in Ardabil City, Iran, in 2022.Methods: A total of 400 patients with epilepsy were evaluated using a census-based sampling method.Data were collected using comprehensive questionnaires covering demographics (age, sex, residence, occupation, education, marital status, and economic status) and clinical data (disease duration, comorbidities, family history, risk factors, seizure types, medication use, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]/electroencephalography [EEG] findings). Results:The highest prevalence of epilepsy was in patients over 60 years (104 cases) and those between the ages of 20 and 25 years (72 patients).The most prevalent comorbidities were diabetes (89 patients), mental illness (98 patients), and hypertension (104 individuals).The main course of treatment for 190 patients was monotherapy.Head trauma (24 patients) and family history (27 patients) were major risk factors.The most prevalent seizure types were tonic-clonic (n=160), tonic (n=40), and focal seizures without loss of consciousness (n=79).A history of seizures was recorded for 276 patients (69%).EEG results primarily showed no epileptiform patterns, but MRI findings revealed gliosis and encephalomalacia in 27 patients. Conclusion:Tonic-clonic and tonic seizures were the most common seizure types in Ardabil City.The clinical features of epilepsy in this area are better understood owing to these discoveries, which can help guide future treatment plans.