Risk factors for drug-resistant epilepsy in pediatric patients at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Indonesia

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy stands out as one of the prevalent neurological conditions, especially in children, caused by impaired brain function with the typical symptom of recurrent seizures due to the release of electrical charges from proximal brain neurons without provocation. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors that contribute to the development of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in pediatric patients with a prior history of epilepsy. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational analytic study was carried out on pediatric patients with epilepsy at Dr. Kariadi Hospital Semarang, Indonesia by analyzing the patient’s medical records. The data were analyzed with univariate and bivariate tests and presented in tabular form. RESULTS: Based on the findings from 73 medical records collected for this study, the incidence of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) was identified in 58 subjects (79.5%). Bivariate analysis revealed significant risk factors associated with DRE, namely the type of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) used and their dosage (p < 0.001). Another factor shown to increase the risk of DRE was seizure frequency (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The risk factors for the occurrence of DRE in children identified in this study include the type and dosage of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), as well as seizure frequency. Inadequate or inappropriate administration of AEDs may increase the likelihood of recurrent epileptic seizures and elevate the risk of developing DRE. Frequent seizures, which are commonly associated with DRE in pediatric patients, may further damage the developing brain.