COVID-19 presentations and outcome in patients with epilepsy

Objective To determine whether patients with epilepsy (PWE) are particularly over-represented in a very large cohort of patients with COVID-19. We also investigated whether COVID-19 is associated with a different clinical picture or a more severe course of illness in PWE (compared with others). Methods All consecutive patients who referred to and admitted at healthcare facilities anywhere in Fars province (located in the south of Iran with a population of 4,851,000 people) from February 19, 2020 until November 20, 2020 were included. Results A total of 37,968 patients were studied. Eighty-two patients (0.2%) had pre-existing epilepsy. Seizures were significantly more frequent among PWE as a presenting manifestation of COVID-19 compared with that in people without epilepsy (Odds Ratio = 27; p = 0.0001). Furthermore, PWE less often reported cough (significantly) and more often had gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting and anorexia; as trends) compared with those in people without epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy were not differently likely to be intubated or admitted at ICUs. Case fatality rates were not different between the two groups [9.8% in PWE and 8.5% in people without epilepsy; p = 0.690]. Conclusion Patients with epilepsy are not susceptible to contracting COVID-19 more than other individuals. Furthermore, COVID-19 in PWE is not associated with a more severe illness or a poorer prognosis. However, PWE and COVID-19 may present somewhat differently than others with such an illness. Why PWE less often present with cough and more often present with gastrointestinal symptoms is not clear yet and should be investigated and clarified in the future studies.

Automated summary

The study found that patients with epilepsy may be more likely to experience seizures as a presenting manifestation of COVID-19, less likely to have cough, and more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms compared to those without epilepsy. However, the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with epilepsy were not significantly different from others.