# Prevalence and associated factors of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms in an older population in Russia: the Ural Very Old Study

## TL;DR

This study found that 1.5% of elderly people in Russia reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms, with factors like neck pain and anemia being associated.

## Contribution

The study identifies novel associations between self-reported epilepsy symptoms and factors like neck pain and anemia in an elderly Russian population.

## Key findings

- Self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms were reported by 1.5% of participants.
- Neck pain, iron deficiency anemia, and unconsciousness were positively associated with epilepsy symptoms.
- Alcohol consumption was negatively associated with epilepsy symptoms.

## Abstract

The study aimed to explore the prevalence of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms (SLESs) and associated factors among an elderly population in Russia.

The population-based Ural Very Old Study (UVOS) was conducted in Bashkortostan, Russia. Of 1882 eligible inhabitants aged 85 + years, 1,526 (81.1%) participated, including 389 (25.5%) men and 1,137 (74.5%) women. The participants underwent a detailed medical examination and interview, during which a history of epileptic attacks was assessed using standardized questions.

Of the 1,526 participants, 1,523 (99.9%), with a mean age of 88.8 ± 2.9 years (range: 85.0–103.1 years), provided information on epilepsy-related questions during the interview. A history of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms was found in 23 individuals (1.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90, 2.12), including 4 (17%) men. The mean age of these individuals was 89.2 ± 3.8 years (85.0–103.1 years). In a multivariable analysis, a higher prevalence of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms was associated with a higher prevalence of neck pain (OR:3.53;95%CI:1.35,9,22;p = 0.01), iron deficiency-related anemia (OR: 5.68; 95%CI: 1.66, 19.5; p = 0.006), and unconsciousness (OR: 7.5295%CI: 2.69, 21.0; p < 0.001), as well as with a lower prevalence of any alcohol consumption (OR:0.14;95%CI:0.05, 0.44;p < 0.001) and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.08; p = 0.01). It was not associated with level of education (p = 0.67), sex (p = 0.54), region of habitation (p = 0.18), Russian versus non-Russian ethnic background (p = 0.48), prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.93), or stages of arterial hypertension (p = 0.85).

Self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms, experienced at any period of life and assessed using a questionnaire with standardized questions, were reported by 23 of 1,523 participants (1.5%) in this very old population in Bashkortostan. The prevalence was independent of sex, educational level, ethnic background, rural versus urban region of habitation, diabetes mellitus, and arterial hypertension.