Abstract Objectives To assess if patients with epilepsy (PWE) experienced an increase in seizure frequency and self-reported stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia in April 2020. An electronic self-administered questionnaire was distributed to PWE via their treating neurologist. The variables included were demographic and baseline clinical characteristics (age, gender, living situation, occupational status, type of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, number of antiepileptic medications (AEDs), presence of known psychiatric illness, and use of psychiatric medications), their seizure control in the month prior to the pandemic, perceived stress during this period of time, sleep changes, compliance changes, and change in seizure control during the pandemic. Results A total of 156 patients completed the questionnaire, with 29.5% reporting an increase in seizure frequency. Additionally, 59.4% reported an increase in self-reported stress and 71.2% experienced a significant change in their sleep during this period. Higher baseline seizure frequency, more AEDs, non-compliance, increase in self-reported stress, and sleep changes are the significant factors associated with increase in seizure frequency during the pandemic. Conclusion Identifying high-risk patients for seizure recurrence is important in order to provide them with adequate support to reduce such risk.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19大流行对癫痫患者癫痫发作控制和自我报告压力的影响

摘要 目的评估癫痫 (PWE) 患者在 COVID-19 大流行期间癫痫发作频率和自我报告的压力是否增加。方法 这是一项横断面研究，于 2020 年 4 月在沙特阿拉伯进行。通过他们的治疗神经科医生向 PWE 分发了一份电子自我管理问卷。包括的变量包括人口统计学和基线临床特征（年龄、性别、生活状况、职业状况、癫痫类型、癫痫持续时间、抗癫痫药物 (AED) 的数量、已知精神疾病的存在和精神药物的使用）、他们的大流行前一个月的癫痫控制、这段时间的感知压力、睡眠变化、依从性变化以及大流行期间癫痫控制的变化。结果 共有 156 名患者完成了问卷，其中 29.5% 的患者报告癫痫发作频率增加。此外，59.4% 的人报告自我报告的压力增加，71.2% 的人在此期间睡眠发生了显着变化。较高的基线癫痫发作频率、更多的 AED、不依从、自我报告的压力增加和睡眠变化是与大流行期间癫痫发作频率增加相关的重要因素。结论 识别癫痫复发的高危患者对于为他们提供足够的支持以降低此类风险非常重要。较高的基线癫痫发作频率、更多的 AED、不依从、自我报告的压力增加和睡眠变化是与大流行期间癫痫发作频率增加相关的重要因素。结论 识别癫痫复发的高危患者对于为他们提供足够的支持以降低此类风险非常重要。较高的基线癫痫发作频率、更多的 AED、不依从、自我报告的压力增加和睡眠变化是与大流行期间癫痫发作频率增加相关的重要因素。结论 识别癫痫复发的高危患者对于为他们提供足够的支持以降低此类风险非常重要。