Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
-
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Mar 2021
The relationship between duty cycle, tachycardia threshold and autostimulation delivery in cardio-responsive vagus nerve stimulation.
Many patients with epilepsy are unable to completely control seizures with medication alone. Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective nonpharmacologic option for treatment-resistant epilepsy. AutoStim technology is a relatively new VNS feature that provides extra stimulations in response to tachycardia, which often precedes seizures. This feature adds a currently unknown number of extra stimulations per day. This study aims to evaluate that actual stimulations' patients receive per day as a function of varying VNS settings. ⋯ These data demonstrate the effect of duty cycle and tachycardia threshold on extra stimulations per day and demonstrated the optimal settings for reducing extra stimulations. This research provides reassurance and information to patients and providers about the actual number of stimulations patients receive with AutoStim technology.
-
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Mar 2021
Responses of people with epilepsy to the COVID-19 pandemic in the time of national lockdown.
The aim of our study was to gather information on how people with epilepsy (PwE) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic during the national lockdown. An online questionnaire was therefore offered to the visitors of the Croatian Association for Epilepsy's website. The 22-items questionnaire was designed to acquire information from adults with epilepsy living in Croatia on demographic data, cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses to the pandemic, and communication problems between patients and their neurologists during the lockdown. ⋯ A canceled neurologist examination during the lockdown was significantly associated with pandemic-related anxiety (2.9 ± 1.28 vs. 2.3 ± 1.19, U = 3039, p = 0.001) and fears (Total Fear Score 31.4 ± 9.70 vs. 28.4 ± 9.79, U = 3341, p = 0.036), and 87.4% of respondents expressed the wish to communicate with their neurologist, either by phone/video call (53.0%) or email (34.4%). Conclusion: We think the results of our survey show that the responses from PwE point to a social responsibility appropriate for the existing situation. During future pandemics, telemedicine could have an important role in tackling the fears and anxieties caused by the cancelation of examinations, which corresponds to the wishes expressed by the great majority of our respondents.
-
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2021
The effect of weather, air pollution and seasonality on the number of patient visits for epileptic seizures: A population-based time-series study.
The objective of the study was to explore the influences of seasonality, meteorological conditions, and air pollution exposure on the number of patients who visit the hospital due to seizures. ⋯ The prediction model obtained in this study indicates the necessity of rigorous monitoring and early warning of these air pollutants and climate changes by governments. Additionally, the study provided a firm basis for establishing prediction models to be used by other countries or for other diseases.
-
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2021
Evaluating risk to people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: Preliminary findings from the COV-E study.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global anguish unparalleled in recent times. As cases rise, increased pressure on health services, combined with severe disruption to people's everyday lives, can adversely affect individuals living with chronic illnesses, including people with epilepsy. Stressors related to disruption to healthcare, finances, mental well-being, relationships, schooling, physical activity, and increased isolation could increase seizures and impair epilepsy self-management. ⋯ These findings suggest that people with epilepsy are currently experiencing health changes, coupled with inadequate access to services. Also, there seems to be a history of poor risk communication in the months preceding the pandemic. As the UK witnesses a second COVID-19 wave, those involved in healthcare delivery must ensure optimal care is provided for people with chronic conditions, such as epilepsy, to ensure that avoidable morbidity and mortality is prevented during the pandemic, and beyond.
-
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2021
Multicenter StudyLoVE in a time of CoVID: Clinician and patient experience using telemedicine for chronic epilepsy management.
As part of our ongoing interest in patient- and family-centered care in epilepsy, we began, before the onset of the CoVID-19 pandemic, to evaluate the concerns and preferences of those delivering and receiving care via telemedicine. CoVID-19 arrived and acted as an unexpected experiment in nature, catalyzing telemedicine's widespread implementation across many disciplines of medicine. The arrival of CoVID-19 in Ireland gave us the opportunity to record these perceptions pre- and post-CoVID. ⋯ Patients reported positive experiences surrounding telephone appointments comparing them favorably to face-to-face encounters. The availability of a shared EEPR demonstrated no loss of care contact for patients with epilepsy. The survey showed that telemedicine is seen as an effective and satisfactory method of delivering chronic outpatient care.