PP14.10 – 2519: Seizure precipitants in adolescents with newly-diagnosed primary generalised epilepsy

Abstract

Objective It is well known that first onset epileptic seizure in Primary Generalized Epilepsies (PGE) is related to precipitants such as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption and exposure to flickering light. In recent decade all epidemiological data reports increased incidence and younger age of exposure to alcohol consumption and deviant behaviours consistent with seizure precipitants. The aim of this study was to determine whether different adolescent social habits influence earlier onset of PGE and change the incidence of seizure provoking factors. Methods Retrospectively medical data of adolescents hospitalized on Department of Paediatric, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia with newly diagnosed PGE were analysed. Diagnosis was confirmed according to standardized ILAE criteria. Data has been obtained from 216 adolescents during the three periods: P1, 1996–2000; P2, 2001–2006; P3, 2007–2012. Seizure precipitants were defined as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, watching television/computer and others. Chi-square, t, Kruskall-Wallis and ANOVA tests were used. Results There were 44.4% males and 55.6% female, mean age 13.4 years, with no significant difference in gender, age, type and incidence of PGE between the periods. Seizure after provoking factors had 74 (34.5%) adolescents. Statistically significant less adolescents in P1 (20%) were exposed to precipitants then in P2 (52.5%) and P3 (37.1%). Mean age of adolescents in whom seizure was provoked was in P1 15.2, in P2 14.2 and in P3 14.7 years, which was not significant. Conclusion It is evident increasing incidence of seizure precipitants in adolescence with PGE during the period from 1996. to 2012. with more precipitants in recent years. There is trend in decreasing median age of PGE incidence but without statistical significance. Those findings can be attributed to more common sleep lacking or/and higher alcohol consummation in adolescents due to changes in social habits in recent years.