Management of people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among epileptologists in China

Acta Epileptologica

Shichuo Li¹  Zhenxu Xiao²  Ding Ding²  Zhen Hong³ 

[1] China Association Against Epilepsy, Beijing, China;Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China;Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China;China Association Against Epilepsy, Beijing, China;

关键词: COVID-19;    Epilepsy;    Survey;    Consensus;    Opinion;    China;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42494-020-00030-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCompared to the healthy people, people with comorbid medical conditions are more vulnerable in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including the people with epilepsy. Besides a consensus recommendation by multi-national epilepsy specialists, the situation of the epilepsy management during the pandemic has seldom been reported.MethodsThe China Association Against Epilepsy carried out an online nationwide survey among its board members in April 2020. One hundred and thirty board members from 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities across China responded to the questionnaires. They reported the situation of clinical practice and gave opinions on the management of people with epilepsy between January 13th and March 31st, 2020, a time period concentrated with confirmed COVID-19 cases.ResultsThe proportions of patients consulting through telephone or online (88.4%) and of patients with regular case review (93.9%) were highest in the high-risk area, as reported by the responders. The patients in the high-risk area were more likely to have increased episodes of seizures (17.7%), aggravated psychological disorders (30.2%), and less accessibility to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) (77.2%). Regular ASMs supply (74.6%), medical consultation (69.2%), and psychological aids (29.2%) were urgently needed for people with epilepsy.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the most common dilemma faced by people with epilepsy in policy circumstances during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. The opinions raised by Chinese epileptologists may provide reference for epilepsy care in other countries.

【 授权许可】

CC BY