Pattern and Predictors of Neurologic Comorbidities among African Children with Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder affecting children in Nigeria. It is often associated with other neurologic comorbidities in addition to epileptic seizures, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cognitive, visual and hearing impairments, which can be unrecognized while focusing on the seizures. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence, pattern and predictors of neurologic comorbidities among 100 children with Epilepsy (CWE) attending the pediatric neurology clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, and age and sex-matched controls selected consecutively. Data were summarized using frequencies and proportions. Chi-square and Mann- Whitney U tests were used to test categorical values, while logistic regression was used to determine predictive factors for neurologic comorbidities. Results: The prevalence of neurologic comorbidities among CWE vs controls was 65% vs 15% (P<0.001). Factors associated with neurologic comorbidities in CWE include younger age at onset of epileptic seizures (P<0.003), severity of seizures (P<0.001), history of status epilepticus (P<0.044), background history of intracranial infections (P<0.029) and the use of combination antiepileptic drugs (P<0.001). Predictors of comorbidities in CWE were treatment with Sodium Valproate and polytherapy. Conclusion: Neurologic comorbidities are more frequent among CWE than controls; therefore, screening for neurologic comorbidities should be routine when assessing and managing CWE.