Abstracts

Exploring the Long-term Effects of COVID-19 in Patients with Epilepsy: A Multicenter Italian Observational Study

Abstract number : 1.354
Submission category : 4. Clinical Epilepsy / 4D. Prognosis
Year : 2024
Submission ID : 1152
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/7/2024 12:00:00 AM
Published date :

Authors :
Presenting Author: Fedele Dono, MD, MSc, cPHD, FEBN – Deparment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara

Clarissa Corniello, MD – Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences "G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara
MIrella Russo, MD, MSc, cPhD – Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences "G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara
Giacomo Evangelista, MD, cPhD – Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, “G. D'Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
Stefano Consoli, MD – Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences "G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara
Flavia Narducci, MD – Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
Giovanni Assenza, MD, PhD – Università Campus Bio Medico di Roma
Claudio Liguori, MD, PhD – University of Tor Vergata, Rome
Carmen Calvello, MD – University of Tor Vergata
Stefano Sensi, MD, PhD – 'G. D'Annunzio' University of Chieti Pescara

Rationale:
Growing evidence in the literature support that patients recovered from Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) may experience emerging neurological and psychiatric symptoms persisting for weeks to months. This phenomenon, known as "long COVID," appears to be more prevalent among individuals with preexisting chronic conditions. The primary objective of this investigation is to ascertain the enduring impacts of COVID-19 on people with epilepsy (PwE).




Methods:
PwE aged >18 who sought care at three epilepsy centers in central Italy during the initial wave of the pandemic spanning from March 2020 to December 2021 were recruited for the study. Based on documented clinical and laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, participants were categorized into two groups: COVID+ and COVID-. Epilepsy-related characteristics (such as seizure frequency and treatment), as well as neurological and psychiatric symptoms, were assessed at baseline and during follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months for both groups.




Results:
The study included 39 patients in the COVID+ group (17 males, 22 females; mean age: 40.6 ± 18.6 years; 33 with focal epilepsy, 6 with generalized epilepsy) and 91 patients in the COVID- group (42 males, 49 females; mean age: 42.9 ± 19.7 years; 69 with focal epilepsy, 22 with generalized epilepsy). At the 6-month follow-up, the COVID+ group exhibited a higher requirement for adjustments in antiseizure medication dosages compared to the COVID- group (p< 0.0001). Furthermore, a greater prevalence of psychiatric symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression) and neurological symptoms (e.g., cognitive impairments) was noted in the COVID+ group at both the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (p< 0.0001). At 12-month, up to 40% of patients in the COVID+ group revealed an increased seizure frequency (p=0.002).




Conclusions: These results indicate that individuals with epilepsy who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection may develop enduring psychiatric and neurological effects.

Funding: No fundings


Clinical Epilepsy