Frequency of seizure in the last 2 months and associated factors among patients with epilepsy aged above 15 years in University of Gondar referral hospital: Negative binomial regression model

Abstract

Background: About three-fourth of adults with new onset epilepsy become seizure-free with current anti-epileptic drugs, but around one fourth of patients continue to experience seizure which increase the risk of accident, disability, death, and treatment side effects. However, studies in this specific research area are very limited. So, this study addressed the gap in determining the magnitude of number of seizure attack and identifying the factors that provoke repeated seizure in patient with epilepsy. Objective: To assess seizure frequency in the last 2 months and associated factors among patients with epilepsy aged above 15 years in University of Gondar Referral Hospital, 2017.Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Gondar Referral Hospital. Systematic random sampling was employed to select the 408study participants. Data was collected by face to face interview using structured questionnaire and analyzed in Stata version 14. Negative Binomial regression model was selected using Log likelihood from Poisson regression. Results: One third of the study experienced seizure attack with minimum of one and a maximum of seventeen. educational status (college/university(AIRR 0.48 and 95%CI 0.24-0.95), wealth index (middle AIRR 0.65 and 95%CI 0.46-0.91and rich AIRR 0.55 and 95%CI 0.38-0.8), sleep deprivation AIRR 1.63 and 95%CI 1.14-2.34, adherence(moderate AIRR0.57and 95% CI (0.40-0.80)and high AIRR0.28and 95% CI (0.19-0.41),duration of treatment(1-5 year (AIRR 0.55 and 95%CI0.35-0.86), flickering light(AIRR1.57and 95% CI (1.13-2.16))and noise(AIRR1.70 and 95% CI (1.26-2.29) were statistically significant seizure provoking factors. Conclusion and Recommendation: The number of seizure attack in the last two months found to be higher than the expected seizure frequency which is zero. Health information dissemination for patient with epilepsy about the importance of adherence, common seizure provoking factors and control mechanism would be important for effective control of seizure attack.