Risk Factors for Epilepsy: A National Cross-Sectional Study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 to 2018

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of epilepsy based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS: The data in this study was obtained from the NHANES database between 2013 and 2018. It included 14,290 participants aged between 20 and 80. We defined people with epilepsy (PWE) when they self-reported took at least one treatment medication for seizures or epilepsy. Analysis of risk factors for epilepsy mainly includes Student’s t-test, chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: People aged 40–59 shared 1.8 times the risk of epilepsy than those who aged 20–39, P=0.034. People who never married had a 2.8-fold higher risk of epilepsy than those who married/living with partner, P<0.001. The risk of epilepsy in subjects with very good/good general health was 0.4 times than that of subjects with fair/poor general health, P<0.001. Moreover, subjects without sleep disorders had a 0.4-fold higher risk of epilepsy than those who had sleep disorders, P=0.042. CONCLUSION: People who are older, unmarried, and have sleep disorders are at higher risk of epilepsy. In addition, good/good general health condition is associated with a lower risk of epilepsy.