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A case-control study on alcohol and seizures: study design, protocol, and data collection

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Abstract

We designed a multicenter case control study to evaluate whether chronic alcoholism and alcohol consumption are risk factors for developing a first generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure. Cases were 278 patients (92 women, 186 men), with a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (either idiopathic or symptomatic), matched to 556 controls for center, sex, age, and weekday of the seizure. Information on risk factors was obtained through a questionnaire. This paper focuses on the study design (selection of cases and choice of controls), the validity of the instruments for data collection, and the strategies of study conduction (interviews, use of proxy respondents). Inter-rater agreement was excellent for drinking status, patterns of drinking, and broad indicators of consumption (yes/no). Agreement was variable for the number of servings/week, but was excellent (r=0.91) for a summary measure of daily alcohol intake.

Sommario

Abbiamo condotto uno studio per valutare se l'uso di alcool e l'alcoolismo cronico sono fattori di rischio per una prima crisi epilettica tonico-clonica generalizzata. I casi erano 278 pazienti (92 femmine, 186 maschi) con una prima crisi tonico-clonica generalizzata idiopatica o sintomatica; i controlli erano 556 pazienti accoppiati ai casi per centro, sesso, età e giorno della settimana. Casi e controlli sono stati intervistati con un questionario. Questo lavoro descrive il disegno dello studio (selezione dei casi e dei controlli), la validazione del questionario, e le modalità di conduzione dello studio (intervista, uso di “surrogati”). L'accordo tra intervistatori era ottimo per lo status di bevitore, le modalità del bere e l'assunzione delle singole bevande (si/no). L'accordo era variabile per il numero di bicchieri bevuti/settimana, ma era ottimo (r=0.91) per la misura riassuntiva del consumo giornaliero di alcool.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divisione Universitaria di Neurologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia di Novara, Università di Torino, Italy

    Leone M., Mutani R. & Gianelli M.

  2. U.O. di Neurologia e Neurofisiopatologia, Ospedale Regionale, Aosta

    Bottacchi E.

  3. Laboratorio di Farmacologia Clinica, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milano and Clinica Neurologica, Università di Milano, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza

    Beghi E.

  4. DEA di Neurologia, Ospedale Molinette, Torino

    Morgando E., Amedeo G. & Cremo R.

  5. Assessorato della Sanità, Regione Valle d'Aosta, Italy

    Ravagli Ceroni L.

Authors
  1. Leone M.
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  2. Bottacchi E.
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  3. Beghi E.
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  4. Morgando E.
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  5. Mutani R.
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  6. Amedeo G.
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  7. Cremo R.
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  8. Gianelli M.
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  9. Ravagli Ceroni L.
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Consortia

The ALC.E. (Alcohol and Epilepsy) Study Group

Additional information

Members of the ALC.E. Group:

Sironi L.,U.O. di Neurologia, Ospedale Regionale, Aosta; Brignolio F., Duc E., Montano V., Tribolo A.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale Civile, Asti; Nardozza V., Gionco M.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale degli Infermi, Biella; Grasso E., Meineri P., Rosso M.G.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale Santa Croce, Cuneo; Villani A., Margaroli A., Julita P., Savoini G.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale S. Biagio, Domodossola; Cavalli A., De Angelis M.S., Naldi P., Terazzi E., Tinebra M.,Divisione Universitaria di Neurologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia di Novara, Università di Torino; Campanella A., De Mattei M., Rocci E., Zaina P.,DEA di Neurologia, Ospedale Molinette, Torino; Nobili M., Vivalda L., Leotta D., Morino U.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale Martini, Torino; Bacci R., Daniele D.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale Mauriziano, Torino; Rubino R., Provera P.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale Civile, Tortona; Andreotti M., Mittino D.,Divisione di Neurologia, Ospedale SS. Trinità, Varallo Sesia.

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The ALC.E. (Alcohol and Epilepsy) Study Group., Leone, M., Bottacchi, E. et al. A case-control study on alcohol and seizures: study design, protocol, and data collection. Ital J Neuro Sci 18, 119–124 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01999574

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01999574

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