FACTORS CAUSING ANEMIA AMONG THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY

Abstract

Objective: To assess the presence of anemia in epileptics presenting at neurology department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi.

Study Design: Comparative cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Neurology department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Oct to Dec 2018.

Methodology: One hundred and eighteen patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of epilepsy was made by the routine international guidelines by the consultant neurologist. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed on the basis of hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Gender of the patient, age, duration of epilepsy, education and poly-pharmacy were correlated with of iron deficiency anemia among the epileptics included in our study during the period of study.

Results: A total of 118 patients were included in the study. Forty nine (41.5%) patients were male while 69 (58.5%) epileptics were females in this study. Most common type of seizures was generalized followed by the partial seizures. Out of 118 patients of epilepsy, 44.9% showed the presence of iron deficiency anemia while 55.1% had no anemia. Duration of illness and poly-pharmacy were correlated significantly (p-value <0.05) with the findings of iron deficiency anemia in the epileptic studied in the given time.

Conclusion: Epilepsy patients had high frequency of iron deficiency anemia. Special attention should be paid towards the patients with long duration of epilepsy or those with seizures controlled with more than one pharmacological agents.