Objective: To determine the ECG findings in patients presenting with seizures within 12 hours of onset to an emergency department (ER) of tertiary care hospital.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi from September, 2021 to March, 2022. A total of 90 patients were included using convenient sampling. Patients with ≥16 years of age, presenting within 12 hours of seizures to ER were included and all those with known history of cardiac diseases were excluded. After taking history and examination, ECG was done and the findings were documented.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 51.05±18.59 years, and the majorities were ≥61years old and 58% were male. More than half of the patients were diabetics and hypertensive. The most common type of epilepsy was generalized. Tachycardia was detected in 53.3% and bradycardia in 35%. Among the multiple alterations, tachycardia and ST-depression was recorded in 3 patients. Bradycardia (p>0.05), and ST-depression (p=0.016) were more in combined type than generalized epilepsy.
Conclusion: Most common ECG finding in patients presenting with seizures within 12 hours of onset to an ER was tachycardia. ST-depression was also observed, more in combined type epilepsy.
Key words: Electrocardiography, seizures, epilepsy, cardiac abnormalities.
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