Prevalence and Risk Factors of Comorbidities in Epilepsy Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Asia

BackgroundPatients with epilepsy often present with multiple comorbidities, which can exacerbate the progression of the disease and reduce their quality of life. Despite the clinical significance, there is a scarcity of collective data to estimate the prevalence of comorbidities among patients with epilepsy in the Asian setting. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify observational studies conducted in Asia that reported the prevalence of comorbidities among patients diagnosed with epilepsy. Only studies focusing on epilepsy patients were included, and participants were required to have epilepsy confirmed through clinical diagnosis or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Other neurological conditions, such as non-epileptic seizures, brain tumors, or stroke without concurrent epilepsy, were excluded from this analysis to maintain focus on epilepsy-specific outcomes. ResultsA total of nine studies were included in the meta-analysis based on inclusion criteria. The most prevalent comorbidities among patients with epilepsy in Asia were hypertension (28.6%, 95% CI: 25.3%-32.0%) and diabetes mellitus (16.2%, 95% CI: 12.5%-20.2%). Factors such as gender, alcohol use, family history, and education level were significantly lower in comparison to other factors. ConclusionsOur study identified hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the most common comorbid conditions among epilepsy patients in Asian settings. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions and comprehensive management strategies to address the high prevalence of comorbidities, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop effective prevention strategies.