Risk factors associated with Epilepsy: A case-control study

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition and the world’s common serious brain disorder. The aim of this case-control study is to identify the significance of certain risk factors for epilepsy. The risk factors examined are age, head trauma, central nervous system infections e.g. meningitis, abnormal perinatal history, family history, socioeconomic status and parental consanguinity. Methods: We designed a case-control study for 700 patients (512 males and 188 females) attending the outpatient neurology clinic of a University General Hospital in Athens-Greece during a two years (20072009) period. In this study the patients were examined and their personal and medical data were taken. For each patient, the phenomenon of epilepsy was studied in relation to different risk factors. The odd ratios have been computed to see the significant factors associated with epilepsy. Results: Positive family history for epilepsy, head trauma, sex, febrile and abnormal perinatal history and low education, were shown to have a statistically significant association with epilepsy.