Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of adults referred to a teaching hospital first seizure clinic.
Postgrad Med J
; 81(961): 715-8, 2005 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16272236
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
There are scarce data describing the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of adults who suffer a suspected first seizure.AIM:
To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of adults with a suspected first seizure who are referred to a teaching hospital first seizure clinic over a one year period.DESIGN:
Prospective descriptive study.METHODS:
Data were collected on consecutive adults referred to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh between 4 February 2003 and 10 February 2004.RESULTS:
232 patients were referred to the first seizure clinic. Median age was 32 years; 53% of patients were male. Lower socioeconomic groups were more likely to present with a suspected first seizure. Nineteen per cent of patients were admitted to hospital after their suspected seizure episode. Appropriate driving advice was reported in 64% of cases. Seventy two per cent of patients were offered a first seizure clinic appointment within six weeks of referral. Nine per cent of patients had a subsequent seizure while awaiting review. Fifty two per cent of patients were confirmed as having a first seizure at the clinic, of which 56% were provoked by alcohol, recreational drugs, or sleep deprivation. Electroencephalography and computed tomography of the brain were the most common investigations ordered at the first seizure clinic (22% and 22% of patients respectively).CONCLUSION:
Adults who suffer a suspected first seizure, and who make a full neurological recovery, can be safely managed as an outpatient. Around half of these patients will have a specialist diagnosis of first seizure and alcohol will be a common precipitating factor.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Convulsões
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
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Screening_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Postgrad Med J
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido