Electroencephalographic features of convulsive epilepsy in Africa: A multicentre study of prevalence, pattern and associated factors

Objective: We investigated the prevalence and pattern of electroencephalographic (EEG) features of epilepsy and the associated factors in Africans with active convulsive epilepsy (ACE). Methods: We characterized electroencephalographic features and determined associated factors in a sample of people with ACE in five African sites. Mixed-effects modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with abnormal EEGs. Results: Recordings were performed on 1426 people of whom 751 (53%) had abnormal EEGs, being an adjusted prevalence of 2.7 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.5‐2.9) per 1000. 52% of the abnormal EEG had focal features (75% with temporal lobe involvement). The frequency and pattern of changes differed with site. Abnormal EEGs were associated with adverse perinatal events (risk ratio (RR) = 1.19 (95% CI, 1.07‐1.33)), cognitive impairments (RR = 1.50 (95% CI, 1.30‐1.73)), use of anti-epileptic drugs (RR = 1.25 (95% CI, 1.05‐1.49)), focal seizures (RR = 1.09 (95% CI, 1.00‐1.19)) and seizure frequency (RR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.10‐1.26) for daily seizures; RR = 1.22 (95% CI, 1.10‐1.35) for weekly seizures and