Volume : 11, Issue : 11, November – 2024
Title:
PREVALENCE OF SEIZURES OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING IN PATIENTS WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY IN TAIF CITY, SAUDI ARABIA
Authors :
Naif Edah Alomairi
Abstract :
Background: It has been well documented that despite their receiving appropriate treatment, a considerable proportion of epileptic patients still experience seizures. Although those patients are restricted from driving by laws and regulations, some of them drive and might induce potential risks to themselves and others.
Objectives: to explore the prevalence and determinants of seizures while driving among epileptic patients.
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif City among a sample of registered adult epileptic patients throughout the period between January 1st, 2021 and May 31st, 2024. A telephone interview questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It comprises three main sections: demographic characteristics of the patients, epilepsy-related characteristics and a history of the patient’s experience with seizures while driving.
Results: The study included 249 epileptic patients. Those aged between 18 and 30 years constituted 34.1% of the participants while females represented 58.2% of them. The commonest type of epileptic seizure was generalized tonic-colonic (79.1%). Almost half of the patients (49.8%) were taking a combination of new and old antiepileptic drugs. The prevalence of seizures while driving among epileptic patients was 5.6%. Out of this, 78.6% reported a history of motor traffic accidents because of seizures while driving. Seizures (while driving) were more significantly reported in male than female patients; being 12.5% and 0.7%, respectively (p<0.001). Similarly, they were more significantly reported in employed than unemployed patients; being 15.6% and 3.4%, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Seizures among epileptic patients while driving were not uncommon, particularly among male and employed patients. Most of them reported motor traffic accidents.
Keywords: Prevalence, seizures, Driving, Epilepsy, Motor traffic accidents
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Naif Edah Alomairi ., Prevalence Of Seizures Occurring While Driving In Patients With The Diagnosis Of Epilepsy In Taif City, Saudi Arabia..,Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2024; 11 (11).
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