Comparative Analysis of Seizure Characteristics in Adherent vs. Non-Adherent Antiepileptic Drug Users

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children, characterized by recurrent seizures that can significantly impact their quality of life. This study aimed to compare seizure characteristics in adherent vs. non-adherent antiepileptic drug users. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Neurology and Development; National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS&H), Dhaka, from January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 250 children were selected study subjects by systematic random sampling without a sampling frame technique. Children with epilepsy were categorized into two groups, AEDs adherent (n1) and non-adherent group (n2). Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS- 23). Statistical significance and confidence interval were set at p<0.05 and 95% level respectively. Result: The analysis showed no significant differences between adherent and non-adherent AED users in seizure onset age (both ~67%) or seizure type (focal onset most common). However, non-adherent children more often had seizures lasting less than 1 minute (91.5% vs. 75.9%, p=0.002), while longer seizures (>5 minutes) were more frequent in the adherent group (8.3% vs. 4.2%, p=0.002). Conclusion: The study found no significant differences in age of onset, seizure type, or epilepsy diagnosis between adherent and non-adherent children. However, non-adherent children had shorter seizures, while adherent children experienced longer ones. Despite similar seizure characteristics, AED adherence remains crucial for better seizure management and preventing complications.