045 - Weather and Incidence of Epileptic Seizure in Children with Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Multicenter Prospective Observational study

Publication Number: 45.7006

Yuto Arai, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Tottori, Japan; Tohru Okanishi, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan; Hisashi Noma, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hiroshi Sunada, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Tottori, Japan; Sotaro Kanai, Tottori University, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Masami Togawa, Department of Pediatrics, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Tottori, Japan; Takako Ohno, West-Shimane Health and Welfare Center., Goutsu, Shimane, Japan; Yuji Fujii, Hiroshima City Funairi Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan; Masanori Maeda, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan; Takeshi Matsushige, Yamaguchi university graduate school of medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan; Yoshihiro Maegaki, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan; Rika Hiraiwa, Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Shimane Rehabilitation Hospital, Matsue, Shimane, Japan

Background: Research examining the relationship between epileptic seizures and weather in children with drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) is limited.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between epileptic seizures and atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity in children with DRE.

Design/Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study, targeting children with DRE under the age of 16 with epilepsy who experienced at least one seizure per week. Participants recorded their daily seizure counts and other seizure-triggering risk factors (fever, sleep deprivation, menstruation, missed medication) over a period of 60 days. Poisson mixed-effects model, adjusting for other seizure-triggering risk factors and patient demographics (gender and age), was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) of seizure incidence.

Results: Sixteen patients participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 11.3 years, with 6 (37.5%) being male. A total of 3214 epileptic seizures were reported, averaging 3.4 seizures per day. The mean atmospheric pressure on the current day [RR, 0.988; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.981–0.996; p=0.002], previous day (RR, 0.989; 95% CI, 0.981–0.996; p=0.003), and two days prior (RR, 0.986; 95% CI, 0.978–0.993; p< 0.001) were negatively associated with the seizure incidence, whereas the atmospheric variations on the previous day (RR, 1.020; 95% CI, 1.004–1.035; p=0.012) and two days prior (RR, 1.022; 95% CI, 1.006–1.037; p=0.005) were positively associated with the seizure incidence. The mean temperature on the current (RR, 0.990; 95% CI, 0.981–0.999; p=0.027) and previous days (RR, 0.991; 95% CI, 0.981–1.000; p=0.047) were negatively associated with the seizure incidence. The mean humidity on the current day (RR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.003–1.010; p=0.001), previous day (RR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.002–1.009; p=0.003), and two days prior (RR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.003–1.010; p< 0.001) were positively associated with the seizure incidence.

Conclusion(s): Lower atmospheric pressure, significant atmospheric variation, lower temperatures, and higher humidity may increase the risk of seizures in children with DRE.