Arinzechi Eugene O, Ogunrin Olubunmi A, Nwosu Cosmas M, Nwani Paul O, Enwereji Kelechi O, Asomugha Lasbrey A, Dimkpa Uche
Department of Medicine, Neurology Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016 Jul-Sep;7(3):405-11. doi: 10.4103/0976-3147.181488.
Epilepsy is the commonest neurological disorder encountered in Sub-Saharan Africa. The quality of life of patients with epilepsy (PWEs) is adversely affected by cognitive impairments.
This study investigated the prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairments in PWE in Ukpo community located in a South-Eastern state in Nigeria using Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) and a computer-assisted cognitive test battery (FePsy).
Fifty-one PWEs were studied and compared with 51 age-, sex-and level of education-matched healthy controls. Diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed clinically with eye-witness corroboration. Sociodemographic data and information on epilepsy variables were obtained with the aid of a questionnaire. Cognitive domains assessed include language, memory, orientation, attention, psychomotor speed and constructional praxis.
The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment using total CSID score was 19.6%. Analysis of CSID scores revealed significant impairment in language (17.6%), memory (29.4%), orientation (15.7%), attention (7.8%) and constructional praxis (15.7%) compared to healthy controls. A similar pattern was observed with FePsy but with better sensitivity indices for detecting cognitive impairment.
This study indicated significant prevalence rate of cognitive impairment among treatment-naïve PWE with profound affectation of memory, mental speed and language. In addition, the FePsy was found to be more sensitive and specific in assessment of cognitive function in PWE.
癫痫是撒哈拉以南非洲地区最常见的神经系统疾病。癫痫患者（PWEs）的生活质量受到认知障碍的不利影响。
本研究使用痴呆症社区筛查访谈（CSID）和计算机辅助认知测试组合（FePsy），调查尼日利亚东南部一个州乌波社区癫痫患者认知障碍的患病率和模式。
对51名癫痫患者进行研究，并与51名年龄、性别和教育程度相匹配的健康对照者进行比较。癫痫的诊断通过临床确诊并经目击者证实。借助问卷获取社会人口统计学数据和癫痫变量信息。评估的认知领域包括语言、记忆、定向、注意力、心理运动速度和构建实践。
使用CSID总分得出的认知障碍患病率为19.6%。CSID评分分析显示，与健康对照者相比，在语言（17.6%）、记忆（29.4%）、定向（15.7%）、注意力（7.8%）和构建实践（15.7%）方面存在显著障碍。FePsy观察到类似模式，但在检测认知障碍方面具有更好的敏感性指标。
本研究表明，初治癫痫患者中认知障碍的患病率较高，对记忆、思维速度和语言有严重影响。此外，发现FePsy在评估癫痫患者的认知功能方面更敏感、更具特异性。
