FACTORS TRIGGERING EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN PATIENTS OVER 50 YEARS

Objective: In this study the factors that trigger the seizures in epileptic patients over the age of 50 was investigated and the frequency of seizures was analyzed regarding different age, gender, type of seizure and etiological groups. Method:  For this purpose, 387 patients were included in the study who were admitted to neurology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of epilepsy. The patients are divided into groups based on those characteristics: male / female, generalized seizure / partial seizure, age between 50 and 65 / age over 65, they were evaluated in terms of seizure triggers. Result: The most common precipitating factor in all groups were found as stress (37%), sleeplessness (27%) and forgetting to take the medication (20%). 31% of the patients were on Carbamazepine, 21% were on Levetiracetam and 19% were on Valproic Asid. The most common etiological causes were identified as idiopathic (39%), poststroke(24%) and dementia (15%). Regarding the triggering factor, some statistically significant differences were found between the following groups and control groups; the group with patients between the age 50 and 65: stress, fatigue, waking and sleeping; the group with female patients: sleeplessness; the group with the generalized seizures: alcohol and sleep.  Conclusion: In conclusion 68% of our patients complained about at least one seizure precipitant and the most common precipitants were stress, sleeplessness and missing dose of medication. In this study, age between 50 and 65 group is more affected by triggers. Keywords: Epilepsy, Seizure precipitants, Stress, Sleeplessness