Epilepsy trigger factors in Saudi Arabia. A missing part of the puzzle

Saudi Med J. 2020 Aug;41(8):828-833. doi: 10.15537/smj.2020.8.25220.

Abstract

Objectives: To identify epilepsy triggers prevalent in Saudi Arabia with a view to seizure prevention or achieving a reduction in their frequency.

Methods: This is part of a cross-sectional study carried out in 2020 in a Saudi population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used an online questionnaire to evaluate the most common seizure trigger factors.

Results: A total of 546 Saudi patients with epilepsy participated in the study, of which 289 (53%) were women. Of them, 263 (48.1%) had no seizure in the previous 3 months. One hundred and thirty-six (25%) had a family member with epilepsy. The most-reported trigger factor was sleep deprivation reported by 285 (52%), followed by stress 225 (41%), missed medication 210 (38.5%), anxiety 209 (38.3%), and fatigue 184 (33.7%). Conclusions: Sleep deprivation is the most reported trigger factor for seizures in the KSA, followed by stress, followed by missed medication.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Epilepsy / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Errors / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Seizures / epidemiology
  • Seizures / etiology*
  • Seizures / prevention & control
  • Sleep Deprivation / complications*
  • Sleep Deprivation / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / complications
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult