Archives of Epilepsy (Mar 2024)
Demographic and Clinical Findings of Patients Monitored in a Newly Established Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic in the Çukurova Region: Experiences of a Tertiary Hospital in Turkey
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical findings of patients monitored at the newly established Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic at the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Adana Medical Faculty, Adana City Training and Research Hospital. Methods: A total of 315 patients who were monitored between July 2021 and October 2022 at the Neurology Clinic’s Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic of the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Adana Medical Faculty, Adana City Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. Results: Of the patients, 161 were male (51.1%) and 154 were female (48.9%). The average age of the patients was 33.9±13.98, and the average seizure frequency was 33.51±98.49 per year. The most frequently observed risk factors included a family history of epilepsy (31.3%), febrile convulsions (19.7%), and head trauma (18.4%). Neuroimaging findings were pathological in 47.6% of the patients, and electroencephalography findings were pathological in 65.8%. Focal onset seizures were observed in 45.1% of the patients, while generalized onset seizures were seen in 46.7%. Monotherapy was administered to 52.7% of the patients, and polytherapy was given to 41.6%. In epilepsy patients aged eighteen and above, pathological findings in neuroimaging were significantly higher (p<0.001). Conclusion: Epidemiological studies provide invaluable information about the characteristics of an epilepsy clinic. However, there is still a notable scarcity of studies related to the regional epilepsy profile in our country. In this study, the clinical and demographic data of the patients were largely consistent with the literature. We believe that the regular monitoring of patients in comprehensive epilepsy clinics will enhance patient compliance and the success of treatment.
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