Investigation to risk factors for developing epilepsy in cerebral palsy: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: Epilepsy is the most common comorbidity in cerebral palsy patients, which has a detrimental effect on their quality of life. This study aimed to examine the risk factors for developing epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy.
Material and Method: This was a retrospective study enrolling children below 15 years of age diagnosed with cerebral palsy at Hatyai Hospital from 1 January to 31 December 2019. The children were divided into two groups, a cerebral palsy with epilepsy group and a cerebral palsy alone group. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for developing epilepsy in these patients.
Result: A total of 131 cerebral palsy patients were enrolled and divided into a cerebral palsy with epilepsy group (56 patients, 42.75%) and cerebral palsy alone group (75 patients, 57.25%). Spastic tetraplegia was the most common form of cerebral palsy in the epilepsy group (67.86%) while spastic diplegia was the most common form in the cerebral palsy alone group (37.33%). The only statistic significant risk factors associated with epilepsy in cerebral palsy as indicated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression were neonatal seizure (aOR 21.6, p-value 0.005), history of central nervous system infection (aOR 213.82 p-value 0.003), and non-ambulatory (aOR 5,59, p-value <0.001). Generalized seizure was the most common seizure type and focal epileptiform discharge was the most common EEG pattern in cerebral palsy with epilepsy patients.
Conclusion: Neonatal seizure, history of central nervous system infection, and non-ambulatory were the only risk factors of epilepsy in cerebral palsy patients with statistical significance.