PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU - Bikbov, M.M., 
AU - Kazakbaeva, G.M., 
AU - Iakupova, E.M., 
AU - Gilemzianova, L.I., 
AU - Insapova, A.V., 
AU - Timerbulatova, D.A., 
AU - Panda-Jonas S., 
AU - Jonas, J.B., 
TI - Prevalence and associated factors of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms in an older population in Russia: the Ural Very Old Study
DP - 2026-06-05
TA - FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
4100 - 10.3389/fneur.2026.1751674
SO - https://repo.bashgmu.ru/publication/5462
AB - Objective: The study aimed to explore the prevalence of self-reported lifetime
epilepsy symptoms (SLESs) and associated factors among an elderly population
in Russia.
Methods: The population-based Ural Very Old Study (UVOS) was conducted in
Bashkortostan, Russia. Of 1882 eligible inhabitants aged 85 + years, 1,526 (81.1%)
participated, including 389 (25.5%) men and 1,137 (74.5%) women. The participants underwent a detailed medical examination and interview, during which a
history of epileptic attacks was assessed using standardized questions.
Results: Of the 1,526 participants, 1,523 (99.9%), with a mean age of
88.8 ± 2.9 years (range: 85.0–103.1 years), provided information on epilepsyrelated questions during the interview. A history of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms was found in 23 individuals (1.5%; 95% confidence interval
(CI): 0.90, 2.12), including 4 (17%) men. The mean age of these individuals was
89.2 ± 3.8 years (85.0–103.1 years). In a multivariable analysis, a higher prevalence of self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms was associated with a higher
prevalence of neck pain (OR:3.53;95%CI:1.35,9,22;p = 0.01), iron deficiencyrelated anemia (OR: 5.68; 95%CI: 1.66, 19.5; p = 0.006), and unconsciousness
(OR: 7.5295%CI: 2.69, 21.0; p < 0.001), as well as with a lower prevalence of any
alcohol consumption (OR:0.14;95%CI:0.05, 0.44;p < 0.001) and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.08; p = 0.01). It was not
associated with level of education (p = 0.67), sex (p = 0.54), region of habitation
(p = 0.18), Russian versus non-Russian ethnic background (p = 0.48), prevalence
of diabetes (p = 0.93), or stages of arterial hypertension (p = 0.85).
Conclusion: Self-reported lifetime epilepsy symptoms, experienced at any
period of life and assessed using a questionnaire with standardized questions,
were reported by 23 of 1,523 participants (1.5%) in this very old population in
Bashkortostan. The prevalence was independent of sex, educational level, ethnic
background, rural versus urban region of habitation, diabetes mellitus, and arterial hypertension.