Epidemiology of post-traumatic epilepsy in the Republic of Tatarstan

Aim. To conduct a comprehensive study of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with post-traumatic epilepsy among the adult population of three districts of the Republic of Tatarstan.Methods. The study was conducted in 2009 in three districts: Arskiy, and Baltasinskiy Tetyushskiy. Cases of active epilepsy were recorded according to the results of household walkovers, continuous investigation of medical outpatient records in healthcare institutions, registration cards of the calls of the ambulance station. Clinical and neurological examinations, including examination of a neurologist, EEG, and in addition - magnetic resonance and computed tomography were performed in cases of newly diagnosed epilepsy, as well as to confirm the diagnosis.Results. Of the established causes of symptomatic epilepsy the most common one was traumatic brain injury (25.09%), notably in males (n=52, 19.47%) on average three times more frequently than in females (n=15, 5.61%). Most commonly the injuries were seen in the age group 30-49 years (5-6 times more common in men). In 23.88% (n=16) of patients with post-traumatic epilepsy more than 12 attacks per year were registered, in 73,14% (n=49) - 1-12 attacks per year, 2.98% (n=2) patients were in medical remission. 83.58% of patients received monotherapy. The most commonly prescribed medications - valproic acid salt, carbamazepine, topiramate, both as monotherapy and as part of polytherapy.Conclusion. A high prevalence of post-traumatic epilepsy (25.09%) was revealed; an insufficient degree of control of epileptic seizures was noted, which was often due to irrational drug therapy.