@article{714631f6cc9d4ee6b9461a96b24b1017,
title = "Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic",
abstract = "ObjectivesTo provide information on the effect of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people with epilepsy and provide consensus recommendations on how to provide the best possible care for people with epilepsy while avoiding visits to urgent care facilities and hospitalizations during the novel coronavirus pandemic.MethodsThe authors developed consensus statements in 2 sections. The first was {"}How should we/clinicians modify our clinical care pathway for people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic?{"}The second was {"}What general advice should we give to people with epilepsy during this crisis? The authors individually scored statements on a scale of -10 (strongly disagree) to +10 (strongly agree). Five of 11 recommendations for physicians and 3/5 recommendations for individuals/families were rated by all the authors as 7 or above (strongly agree) on the first round of rating. Subsequently, a teleconference was held where statements for which there was a lack of strong consensus were revised.ResultsAfter revision, all consensus recommendations received a score of 7 or above. The recommendations focus on administration of as much care as possible at home to keep people with epilepsy out of health care facilities, where they are likely to encounter COVID-19 (including strategies for rescue therapy), as well as minimization of risk of seizure exacerbation through adherence, and through ensuring a regular supply of medication. We also provide helpful links to additional helpful information for people with epilepsy and health providers.ConclusionThese recommendations may help health care professionals provide optimal care to people with epilepsy during the coronavirus pandemic.",
author = "French, {Jacqueline A.} and Brodie, {Martin J.} and Roberto Caraballo and Orrin Devinsky and Ding Ding and Lara Jehi and Nathalie Jette and Andres Kanner and Modi, {Avani C.} and Newton, {Charles R.} and Patel, {Archana A.} and Pennell, {Page B.} and Emilio Perucca and Sander, {Josemir W.} and Scheffer, {Ingrid E.} and Gagandeep Singh and Emma Williams and Jo Wilmshurst and Cross, {J. Helen}",
note = "Funding Information: J.A. French receives NYU salary support from the Epilepsy Foundation and for consulting work and/or attending scientific advisory boards on behalf of the Epilepsy Study Consortium for Acadia, Adamas, Aeonian/Aeovian, Anavex, Arvelle Therapeutics, Inc., Axcella Health, Axovant, Biogen, Biomotiv/Koutif, Blackfynn, Bloom Science, Bridge Valley Ventures, Cavion, Cerebral Therapeutics, Cerevel, Crossject, CuroNZ, Eisai, Empatica, Encoded Therapeutics, Engage Therapeutics, Epitel, Fortress Biotech, GW Pharma, Idorsia, Ionis, Janssen Pharmaceutica, J&J Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Marinus, NeuCyte, Inc., Neurelis, Neurocrine, Novartis, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development, Ovid Therapeutics, Inc., Pfizer, Pfizer-Neusentis, Praxis, Redpin, Sage, Shire, SK Life Sciences, Springworks, Stoke, Sunovion, Supernus, Takeda, UCB, Inc., Ultragenyx, West Therapeutic Development, Xenon, Zogenix, and Zynerba; received research grants from Biogen, Cavion, Eisai, Engage, GW Pharma, Lundbeck, Neurelis, Ovid, Pfizer, SK Life Sciences, Sunovion, UCB, Xenon, and Zogenix, as well as grants from the Epilepsy Research Foundation, Epilepsy Study Consortium, and NINDS; is on the editorial board of Lancet Neurology and Neurology Today; is Chief Medical/Innovation Officer for the Epilepsy Foundation for which NYU receives salary support; and has received travel reimbursement related to research, advisory meetings, or presentation of results at scientific meetings from the Epilepsy Study Consortium, the Epilepsy Foundation, Adamas, Arvelle Therapeutics, Inc., Axovant, Biogen, Blackfynn, Cerevel, Crossject, CuroNz, Eisai, Engage, Idorsia, Lundbeck, NeuCyte, Inc., Neurelis, Novartis, Otsuka, Ovid, Pfizer, Redpin, Sage, SK Life Science, Sunovion, Takeda, UCB, Ultragenyx, Xenon, and Zogenix. M.J. Brodie serves on the advisory boards of Xenon and Arvelle Therapeutics and is on the speakers' bureau for Eisai and UCB Pharma. R. Caraballo, O. Devinsky, D. Ding, and L. Jehi report no relevant disclosures. N. Jette receives grant funding paid to her institution for grants unrelated to this work from the NINDS (NIH U24NS107201 and NIH IU54NS100064) and PCORI; receives an honorarium for her work as an Associate Editor of Epilepsia; and is on the editorial board of Neurology. A. Kanner received honoraria from Eisai Laboratories for chairing a scientific advisory board, from NeuroPace for lectures given in a regional conference, and from the Epilepsy Foundation for services as Co-Editor-in Chief of Epilepsy.com . A.C. Modi receives funding from the NIH (NIDDK and NINR) and PCORI. C.R. Newton and A.A. Patel report no relevant disclosures. P.B. Pennell receives royalties from UpToDate and research support from the NIH (NINDS and NICHD), the Karger Fund, honoraria, and/or travel reimbursements from the AES, AAN, Epilepsy Foundation, and NIH. E. Perucca received speaker or consultancy fees from Amicus Therapeutics, Arvelle, Biogen, Eisai, GW Pharma, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Laboratorios Bag{\`o}, Sanofi, Sun Pharma, UCB Pharma, and Xenon Pharma, outside this work. J.W. Sander reports consultancy fees from Eisai, UCB, and Zogenix and grants from Eisai, UCB, and GW Pharma, outside this work; his research is supported by the NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, the Dr. Marvin Weil Epilepsy Research Fund, the UK Epilepsy Society, and the Christelijke Vereniging voor de Verpleging van Lijders aan Epilepsie, Netherlands. I.E. Scheffer reports personal fees or speaker honoraria from UCB, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, BioMarin, Nutricia, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Biocodex, and Eisai and receives/has received research support from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Health Research Council of New Zealand, CURE, Australian Epilepsy Research Fund, March of Dimes, and NIH/NINDS. G. Singh has received funding to organize meetings from several pharmaceutical companies but no personal fees. E. Williams and J. Wilmshurst report no relevant disclosures. J.H. Cross has acted as an investigator for studies with GW Pharma, Zogenix, Vitaflo, and Marinius and has been a speaker and on advisory boards for GW Pharma, Zogenix, and Nutricia; all remuneration has been paid to her department; her research is supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, NIHR, EPSRC, GOSH Charity, ERUK, and the Waterloo Foundation. Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} American Academy of Neurology.",
year = "2020",
month = jun,
day = "9",
doi = "10.1212/WNL.0000000000009632",
language = "English",
volume = "94",
pages = "1032--1037",
journal = "Neurology",
issn = "0028-3878",
publisher = "Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Ltd.",
number = "23",
}