Is Covid-19 lockdown related to an increase of accesses for seizures in the emergency department? An observational analysis of a paediatric cohort in the Southern Italy

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic of Covid 19—the disease caused by Sars–Cov2—on Wednesday 11 March 2020 (https://​www.​who.​int/​dg/​speeches/​detail/​who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19%2D%2D-11-march-2020), first reported in Wuhan (China) in December 2019 [1].

Since then, according to literature [2, 3], we have witnessed a worldwide massive drop in emergency department (ED) paediatric admissions, partially due to both the higher prevalence of this disease in older age groups [4] and mild-asymptomatic clinical course in children and adolescents [5].

This phenomenon is to relate, as well, to a reduction of other seasonal viral infections due to self-isolation and social distancing measures adopted by governments. Nevertheless, parental concerns about exposing their children to hospital environment delayed diagnosis of acute severe illnesses that needed to be treated [6].

The lockdown, isolation, contact restrictions and economic shutdown caused a change of the psychosocial environment. As a concomitant consequence, an increase of mental health disorders, in the paediatric population, was observed (anxiety, depression, panic attacks) [7].

Children and adolescents were placed under pressure by this new situation that included smart schooling, limited access to outdoor play spaces and sleep disorders [8]. As a consequence, the use of mobile media devices (MMDs), television, smartphones, tablets, computers and video consoles (PlayStation™, Xbox™, Nintendo™) was increased.

We aimed to correlate lifestyle changes during the Covid-19 pandemic with the occurrence of epileptic seizures in a paediatric population from Southern Italy. Moreover, we examined the correlation between seizures, increasing usage of MMDs and sleep disorders, during lockdown.

This observational study involved patients attending ED of Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, one of the major paediatric hospitals in Southern Italy, during the Covid-19-related lockdown in Italy (since the 9th of March 2020 up to 4th of May 2020). In this study, all patients entering the ED for seizures, from 4 to 14 years of age, were included. Non-epileptic events and febrile seizures were excluded. Our cohort was stratified into two groups, i.e. patients presenting with new-onset seizures and patients with a previous diagnosis of epilepsy.

Data including demographic characteristics (gender, age, family history for seizures), seizures semiology, previous diagnosis of epilepsy, pharmacological treatment and compliance to therapy before the seizure, admission at the neurological department or not, were collected. In addition, neurological exam, electroencephalographic (electroencephalography (EEG)) and neuro-radiological (computerized tomography CT or magnetic resonance imaging MRI) findings and diagnosis of epilepsy at discharge were reported. These data were collected analysing the ED database and medical records of the patients admitted to our Neurology Department.

Moreover, a brief questionnaire (appendix 1, English translation of the Italian administered version) was created to obtain data about the use of MMDs (daily screen time (DST); typology of device, television, smartphones, tablets, computers and video consoles and seizures latency from the last use of the device), sleep habits (total sleep time (TST), qualitative alterations of sleep) and how the usage varied in the lockdown period comparing it to the habitual mean usage. The questionnaire is composed of eleven questions, elaborated by adapting other existing and/or validated questionnaires [9‐11]. It was administered via telephone to one of the child’s parent; a verbal consent was obtained before the administration.

To compare the 2020 prevalence of admission for seizures at our ED with that of the previous year, we also reported the number of patient (4–14 years) attending our ED for seizures, from March up to April 2019. Furthermore, data including demographic characteristics (gender, age) and diagnosis of discharge were recorded.

Regarding discharge diagnosis, we reported the number of patients with final epilepsy diagnosis or only single seizures, and we described them according to the new classification of seizures and epilepsy of International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) of 2017 [12].

From the 9th of March up to the 4th of May 2020, there were 3968 total accesses to our ED, 61 of them (1.5%, CI 95% 0.012–0.019) for critical events, 57 (1.4%, CI 95% 0.011–0.018) for seizures and 4 (0.1%, CI 95% 0.0005–0.0034) for non-epileptic paroxysmal events. Incidence of seizures was 0.5% (CI 95% 0.003–0.008) (20/3931). Excluding surgical (829) and orthopaedic (553) accesses, and non-urgent (426) patients, the prevalence of seizures was 2.6% (57/2160) with CI 95% 0.020–0.034. Incidence of seizures was 0.94% (CI 95% 0.006-0.014)(20/2123), while the incidence of new epilepsy’s diagnosis was 1.3% (CI 95% 0.009–0.018)(28/2131). In the same period, last year, we recorded 16,923 admissions in ED, 40 (0.24%) for critical events (1/40 patients had non-epileptic paroxysmal event). Prevalence of seizures was 0.23% (CI 95% 0.001–0.003) (39/16923), and the incidence was 0.08% (CI 95% 0.0004–0.001) (13/16886). Excluding surgical (2424) and orthopaedic (2319) accesses, and non-urgent (2397) patients, the prevalence and incidence of seizures were 0.4% (CI 95% 0.003–0.005) (39/9783) and 0.13% (CI 95% 0.0008–0.0023) (13/9757), respectively. Incidence of new epilepsy’s diagnosis was not reported because no reliable data were available. There was a statistically significant difference between the prevalence and incidence of seizure accesses between March and May 2020 and 2019: about prevalence χ² = 102.21 (p = 0.0001), while incidence χ² 37.34 (p = 0.0001), in comparison to all accesses, whilst considering only the paediatric medical emergencies χ²=111.36 (p = 0.0001) for prevalence and χ²=41.18 (p= 0.0001) for incidence.

There were not statistically significant differences about patients with new-onset seizures and known epilepsy. Data were reported in Table 1.

Fifty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, 20 of them had new-onset seizures (35 %), whilst 37 (65%) had known epilepsy or not new-onset seizures. Clinical and demographic data of both groups were summarised in Table 2.

Of the 57 enrolled patients, 45 were contacted by phone: 37 of them reported difference in the number of hours of exposure to the devices.

Sixteen of 45 patients (35.5%) had new-onset seizures, while 29 of 45 patients (64.4%) had known epilepsy or not new-onset seizures. In the two different groups, 15 (93.7%) and 27 (93.1%) patients, respectively, confirmed increased use of MMDs during lockdown. Five patients with new onset seizures and 6 with known epilepsy or not new-onset seizures experienced a seizure while using MMDs.

Twenty-one contacted patients (46.6%) reported difference in sleep duration, 6 of them (28.6%) had new-onset seizures. Twenty-three patients (51.1%) referred poor sleep quality, 10 (43.4%) of them had new-onset seizure.

In all our population, there was a statistically significant difference in DST (p = 0.001) and TST (p = 0.045), between period pre- and during lockdown. The median seizure latency from the last use of the device was 3.0 hours (0–24.0) [IQR 0-8.0]. The results were also comparable in the two separate groups. Moreover, only the difference between TST was not significant. Data were reported in Table 4.

We showed a correlation between DST and age at admission in ED ( Spearman’s ρ 0.522, p = 0.001) in all included patients. In detail, we confirmed this correlation both in patients with new-onset seizures (Spearman’s ρ 0.573, p = 0.025) and in patients with known epilepsy (Spearman’s ρ 0.554, p = 0.007).

Considering only patients with a diagnosis of FE and GE, we reported a negative correlation between DST and seizure latency (Spearman’s ρ 0.426, p = 0.038). A simple linear regression was calculated to predict interval of time since the last usage based on DST. A significant regression equation was found (F (1.22) = 6.219, p = 0.021), with a R² of 0.220. Seizure latency predicted is 10.881–0.861 (DST) hours. Seizure latency decreased 0.861 for each hours of DST. There was no correlation between TST and interval of time since the last usage (p = 0.387). We did not confirm these results analysing data in two separated groups, patients with new-onset seizure [correlation between DST and seizure latency (p = 0.384), correlation between TST and seizure latency (p = 0.530)] and patients with known epilepsy (p = 0.244 and p = 0.273, respectively).

Seven patients reported the use of one device, 18 patients of two different devices, 13 patients of three, 3 patients of four, 2 patients reported no usage of devices and other 2 patients did not answer this question. There was no difference between the usage of two or more devices and the diagnosis of FE and GE (p= 0.716), neither between the usage of two or more devices and a newly seizure onset (p= 0.821). Predictors for diagnosis of a FE and GE were investigated: no correlation with DST p = 0.679, [OR 1.052 (CI 95% 0.826-1.341)], neither regarding TST p = 0.065, [OR 1.739 (CI 95% 0.966–3.132)] or the number of used devices p = 0.612, OR 1.467 [CI 95% 0.335–6.430] was found. If the analysis was performed in the two separate groups, the results were confirmed as not significant.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a clinical epidemiological change about the onset of many diseases: in some countries, a decrease of common paediatric diseases has been reported [2, 13], such as asthma and acute respiratory tract infection [14]. Since schools and sport centres closed, the number of acute infections and traumas among children were lower than usual [15]. In addition, the literature reports an increase in sleep disorders, depression and other psychiatric disorders in children, during pandemic [16‐19]. Moreover, strong social restrictions allowed children to assume incorrect habits about food, physical activities or screen time [20, 21]. Children, indeed, spent a lot of time at home using MMDs such as TV, smartphones, tablets and video consoles [22]. We showed an increase in the numbers of seizures detected in a paediatric Southern Italian cohort during “quarantine/social limitations” (9th March–4th May 2020), compared with the same population during the same months in 2019. These findings confirm the view that the change in life habits, including the use of mobile devices and sleep changes, might have favoured the occurrence of epileptic seizures in a population of children during the 2020 lockdown.

We witnessed a drastic decrease in admissions in ED in Italy [3] and in Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital. Also, we reported a significant increase of accesses for seizures during lockdown period.

Normally, the incidence of epilepsy in children ranges from 41 to 187/100000. A higher incidence is reported from underdeveloped countries. The prevalence is consistently higher than incidence and ranges from 3.2 to 5.5/1000 in developed countries and 3.6–44/1000 in undeveloped countries [23‐25]. In our study, we analysed the incidence and prevalence of seizures during Italian lockdown for Covid-19 (9th March to 4th May 2020) comparing to the incidence and prevalence of seizures in the same period of last year. We described a significant increase of seizure prevalence and incidence compared with the same period of the last year: the prevalence of seizures in children accessed to the emergency department of Santobono-Pausilipon Hospital in Naples during the lockdown (9th March–4th May 2020) was 2.6%, while in the same period of 2019, the prevalence was 0.4 %, whilst the incidence was 0.94 and 0.13%, respectively, with statistically significant differences in both cases.

These data could reflect a change in the sanitary organization of assistance (reduction of ambulatory activities and migration of patients to the ED access). In our opinion, however, discontinuing of outpatient activities was not very significant. A telemedicine service was created for management and follow-up of known patients, whilst the ambulatory continued to be open for urgency. Most of the patients who benefited from telemedicine were epileptic patients for monitoring and therapeutic modifications. Furthermore, seizures are a reason for access to the emergency department also for the strong emotional impact on parents.

We suspected that some of the conditions experienced during lockdown might have been facilitating factors or triggers for the seizures. In particular, in our study children presented a statistically significant difference in DST and in TST compared with the period before lockdown. In detail, we reported an increasing use of MMDs both in all population and in patients with new-onset seizures or not. We reported, as expected, that older children used devices more than the younger ones. Additionally, considering patients with FE and GE, children that spent more hours using a device, had shorter seizure latency. Precisely, eleven of 45 patients contacted by phone experienced a seizure during device’s use. Furthermore, no gender difference has been described.

It is known that seizures are usually unpredictable and arise spontaneously. Regardless, some perturbations like intercurrent diseases sleep disturbances or emotional stress act as a trigger [26]. In literature seizures (e.g. reflex epilepsy) modulated or precipitated by extrinsic (i.e. light, music) or intrinsic (i.e. movements, emotion, cognitive processes) stimuli are described [26, 27]. In susceptible children, seizures triggered by this type of stimuli or processes can have different latencies [28].

Some studies reported that FE is more frequently related to alterations in the sleep-wake rhythm [29] and GE are frequently triggered by external stimuli [30]. In our study, we noticed no difference in terms of presentation of the seizures between focal and generalized, and no predictive factors (number of hours of sleep and device usage, number of devices used) have been found for FE or GE diagnosis.

In our population, only 2 patients (3.5%) had photosensitivity. In literature, flashing lights are the most frequent extrinsic trigger in reflex epilepsy and occur in 2% of epileptic patients, mainly in adolescents and females. In fact, age-dependent correlation is described [26].

We emphasize that the maximum age to access to our hospital is 14 years. For this reason, data about photosensitivity could be poor. However, reported rate was in line with the literature.

Some authors deny that increased use of MMDs, in particular video games, is related to a higher risk of seizures in non-photosensitive patients. Nevertheless, their studies described adults and only “out-of-date” video games [31‐33]. It is known the risk of paroxysmal EEG discharges and consequently of clinical epileptic manifestations for the shortness of the distance between subject and TV screen [33], but we did not investigate it.

Of course, we cannot confirm or not a correlation between seizures and mobile media devices (we have not a control population) but only describe a phenomenon observed during Italian lockdown, in our centre. In our opinion, social restrictions, increased use of devices, sleep deprivation, poor sleep quality and also emotional stress could have been facilitating factors or triggers for seizures. We suggest re-evaluating, with further studies, the role of devices and new games as triggers or facilitating factors of seizures.

As in our population, there was a good compliance to the antiepileptic treatment, and the reported increase of seizures is probably due to a lifestyle variation, with a decrease of sleep time and an increase of device use.

Recently, a noticeable increase in the use of devices, especially in older children, was reported [11, 31]. As announced by American Academy of Pediatrics [34], it is necessary to regulate the use of MMDs, according to the age of the child. It is known, in fact, that overuse of digital media and screens may place children or teenager at risk of obesity, sleep problems, gaming disorder, cyberbullying and risky behaviours (substance abuse, sexual behaviours). In literature the effects of sleep on epileptic seizures are described extensively [35‐39]; on the contrary, studies regarding the effects of MMDs on seizures are poor. Probably, seizures might be a possible risk, but future studies are desirable to correlate MMD use with seizures and to understand any pathophysiological mechanisms of them.

Major limitations of the present study are its observational and retrospective design and the lack of a control population to correlate the critical event with the use of devices and the alteration of sleep hours. Moreover, we used only an anamnestic questionnaire, administered via telephone, and the increased number of ED accesses for seizures could reflect the closure of ambulatory facilities in the same period. Finally, we did compare only the same periods of the years 2019–2020, whereas it would have been interesting and more significant to also compare the previous years (at least 5) and to study the trend of accesses during the period pre- and post-lockdown.

The Covid-19 crisis has imposed numerous social restrictions. Since the pandemic was announced, there has been a high drop of accesses to basic services. Regular playgrounds, social group activities, sports clubs and school have been closed. Social relations have been strongly limited to closest family members. This could harm children and adolescent and change habits and behaviours. In our study we reported an increase of seizures, probably precipitated by higher usage of devices, a reduction in sleep time and impaired sleep quality. Further studies are needed to better characterize the underlying pathophysiological mechanism and the causal link between seizures and devices overuse and sleep disturbances. Moreover, most of the studies are not recent. Maybe, new lifestyles, simultaneous or continuous use of several devices and new games (sometimes violent and stressful) could be considered. Furthermore, recommendations for families and healthcare providers on the use of mobile media by children are strongly needed.