Characteristics of the patients who admitted to the emergency department with seizures and the factors affecting the frequency of admission

OBJECTIVES: To determine the features of patients applying to the emergency department (ED) with seizures and the factors affecting the frequency of admission. METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective, cross-sectional study. The demographic and clinical characteristics, admission frequencies, diagnostic tests (laboratory and imaging methods) of the patients who were older than 18 years old and admitted to the ED between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2017 with seizures were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 867 patients with seizures. A comparison of the number of admissions by gender revealed a statistical significance (p=0.007). The number of admissions and the number of seizures until the time of admission were compared and found a statistical significance (p=0.002). In the logistic regression analysis of the factors affecting the frequency of admissions, seizure character [OR: 4.404 (%95 CI:1.761-11.015), p=0.002], comorbidity [OR: 2.021 (%95 CI:1.407-2.904), p<0.001], hospitalization [OR:1.893 (%95 CI: 1.259-2.847), p=0.002], concomitant injury [OR: 2.013 (%95 CI: 1.016-3.988), p=0.045], drug use (p<0.001), and possible etiology cerebrovascular disease (CVD) [OR: 2.763 (%95 CI: 1.327-5.752), p=0.007] were risk factors for frequent admission of patients applying to ED with seizures. CONCLUSION: Seizure character (first and known seizure), comorbidity status, hospitalization, concomitant injury, anti-epileptic drugs use, and possible etiology CVD are risk factors affecting the frequency of admission with seizure.