Table 2 Health challenges among MS, epilepsy, and headache patients during COVID-19
Multiple sclerosis (n = 80) n (%) | Epilepsy (n = 150) n (%) | Headache (n = 40) n (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variables | Total | Patients with new relapses (%) | Total | Patients with increased seizure (%) | Total | Patients with increased headache (%) |
Discontinuation of medication (or regular infusions) | ||||||
Yes | 13 (17.57) | 5 (38.46) | 30 (20.13) | 23 (76.67) | 10 (25.00) | 7 (70.00) |
No | 61 (82.43) | 26 (42.62) | 119 (79.87) | 56 (47.06) | 30 (75.00) | 18 (60.00) |
Reason of discontinuation | ||||||
Anxiety about the pandemic (and/or concerns regarding immune suppression side effects of DMT) | 4 (30.77) | 2 (50.00) | 9 (34.62) | 7 (77.78) | 2 (20.00) | 1 (50.00) |
Restricted accessibility due to the pandemic | 3 (23.08) | 1 (33.33) | 12 (46.15) | 9 (75.00) | 2 (20.00) | 1 (50.00) |
Others | 6 (46.15) | 2 (33.33) | 5 (19.23) | 3 (60.00) | 6 (60.00) | 5 (83.33) |
Change in sleep pattern | – | – | ||||
Fewer hours at night and during the day | 16 (10.74) | 13 (81.25) | 9 (22.50) | 8 (88.89) | ||
Fewer hours at night and more during the day | 13 (8.72) | 6 (46.15) | 3 (7.50) | 1 (33.33) | ||
More hours of sleep | 12 (8.05) | 5 (41.67) | 3 (7.50) | 0 (0.00) | ||
No change | 108 (72.48) | 55 (50.93) | 25 (62.50) | 16 (64.00) | ||
Reason of change in sleep pattern | – | – | ||||
Anxiety and fear of the pandemic | 14 (34.15) | 11 (78.57) | 4 (28.57) | 3 (75.00) | ||
Frequent lockdowns and work stoppage | 15 (36.59) | 5 (33.33) | 3 (21.43) | 0 (0.00) | ||
Othersa | 12 (29.27) | 8 (66.67) | 7 (50.00) | 5 (71.43) | ||