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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2021; 79(04): 310-314
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X-ANP-2020-0517
Articles

The impact of COVID-19 on patients with epilepsy

O impacto da COVID-19 em pacientes com epilepsia
Gloria Maria de Almeida Souza TEDRUS 
1   Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
João Fernando Cloclet Pio da SILVA 
2   Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Faculdade de Medicina, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
Gabriel Santaterra BARROS 
2   Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Faculdade de Medicina, Campinas SP, Brazil.
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ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing can have adverse impacts on adult people with epilepsy (PWE). Objective: To investigate the seizure frequency, the perceived well-being, and the presence of anxiety symptoms in PWE during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: Data from a questionnaire on the repercussions of COVID-19 were analyzed in relation to the clinical variables of 114 PWE, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: There were 26 cases of COVID-19 in PWE and/or family members (22.8%). During the pandemic period, 11 PWE (9.6%) reported an increase in seizures, but unrelated to COVID-19. Also, the number of crises in PWE with previous depressive disorders increased, with differences between epilepsies. Symptoms of depression, impaired well-being, and concern for their lifestyle were significant in PWE with a previous diagnosis of depression. Impaired well-being, increased anxiety, nervousness, and tiredness, and the concern with being infected were mentioned by a high number of PWE in the pandemic. Conclusion: Seizure frequency increased during the pandemic period, a finding associated with clinical variables of epilepsy. PWE with depression had worse perceived well-being. Changes in well-being and increased anxiety and nervousness were frequent in the pandemic.

RESUMO

Introdução: A pandemia por COVID-19 e o isolamento social podem ter impactos adversos em pessoas adultas com epilepsia (PCE). Objetivo: Investigar a frequência das crises, a percepção de bem-estar e a presença de sintomas de ansiedade em PCE no período da pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: Foram relacionados os dados de um questionário de repercussões da COVID-19 com as variáveis clínicas de 114 PCE, com nível de significância p<0,05. Resultados: A COVID-19 ocorreu em 26 (22,8%) PCE e/ou familiares. Durante o período da pandemia, houve aumento das crises epilépticas em 11 (9,6%) PCE, mas sem relação com o diagnóstico de COVID-19. No período da pandemia, houve aumento do número de crises nos PCE com transtorno depressivo prévio e de modo distinto entre as epilepsias. Sintomas de depressão, comprometimento do bem-estar e preocupação com o estilo de vida ocorreram significativamente nos PCE com diagnostico anterior de depressão. O comprometimento do bem-estar, o aumento da ansiedade, do nervosismo e do cansaço, e a preocupação em contrair a doença foram referidos na maior parte do tempo em elevado número de PCE na pandemia. Conclusão: Houve aumento da ocorrência de crises epilépticas durante o período pandêmico e isso foi associado a variáveis clínicas da epilepsia. Pior percepção de bem-estar ocorreu nos PCE com depressão. Alteração do bem-estar e aumento de ansiedade e de nervosismo foram frequentes na pandemia.

Keywords:

Coronavirus Infections - Pandemics - Epilepsy - Seizures

Palavras-chave:

Infecções por Coronavirus - Pandemias - Epilepsia - Convulsões

Authors’ contribution:

All authors contributed in writing and editing the main manuscript, which was critically reviewed by all. GMAST contributed to the conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, methodology, administration and visualization of the project.




Publication History

Received: 30 October 2020

Accepted: 29 December 2020

Article published online:
01 June 2023

© 2021. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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