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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · International Journal of Epilepsy 2023; 09(01/02): 013-018
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1788265
Original Article

Seizure-Related Injuries among Patients with Epilepsy at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Cyrille Nkouonlack 
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
,
Adrien Yongho Mounchili
2   Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
,
Daniel Massi Gams 
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
3   Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
,
James Fenibe Mbinta
4   School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
,
Alain Mefire Chichom
5   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
,
Yacouba Njankouo Mapoure
3   Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
6   Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
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Abstract

Background Seizures can lead to injuries in patients with epilepsy (PWE). This study seeks to determine the 1-year incidence, types, and associated factors of seizure-related injuries in PWE compared with that of patients without epilepsy.

Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon. Patients with active epilepsy within the past 5 years were compared to patients without epilepsy after matching them by age and gender during a 12-month period. Data was collected from patient records using a questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS version 20 software. The chi-square test was used to compare the proportions of injuries at a significant level of p < 0.05 and a confidence interval (CI) of 95%.

Results A total of 155 participants were recruited in each group. Note that 51.6% were males, and the mean age was 25.46 ± 16.35 years. The 1-year incidence of all injuries was 26.5% in PWE against 16.8% among patients without epilepsy, respectively (p = 0.038; odds ratio = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.03–3.10). Soft tissue injury was higher in PWE (82.9%, p < 0.05) compared to those without epilepsy (50%), whereas patients without epilepsy had more cases of burns compared to PWE (p < 0.05). PWE and having frequent seizures with falls and those on more than one antiseizure medication had an increased risk of injuries (p < 0.05).

Conclusion PWE have a double risk of having mild soft tissue injuries attributed to epileptic seizures. The risk is increased in PWE having seizures with falls and those taking more than one antiseizure medication.

Keywords

epileptic seizures - physical injuries - antiseizure medication


Publication History

Article published online:
06 August 2024

© 2024. Indian Epilepsy Society. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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