Ali A Asadi-Pooya1, Reza Azizimalamiri2, Reza Shervin Badv3, Bahram Yarali4, Marjan Asadollahi5, Maryam Homayoun6, Samira Sharifi6. 1. Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: aliasadipooya@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Golestan Medical, Educational and Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 3. Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: byarali@tums.ac.ir. 5. Department of Neurology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
PURPOSE: On May 8, 2018, the United States announced that it was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. This has resulted in reimposition of the economic hardship on Iran. We investigated the patients' perceptions of hardship in obtaining their antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) after the reimposition of sanctions. METHODS: We surveyed patients with epilepsy visiting three centers in Iran on February 2nd to 6th (easy sampling) on their perceptions on two issues: RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-four patients participated. Ninety-two patients (37.7%) claimed that they have had significant difficulty obtaining their AEDs, and 37 patients (15.2%) said that their AED(s) was not accessible. Ninety-six people (72%) of those receiving imported AEDs and 33 patients (30%) of those receiving homemade AEDs had significant hardship obtaining their drugs (p = 0.00001). Forty-seven patients (36%) of those who reported significant hardship obtaining their AEDs and 25 (22%) of those who did not, perceived worsening of their seizures (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Sanctions have affected ordinary people, especially those who are vulnerable the most (i.e., patients), significantly.
PURPOSE: On May 8, 2018, the United States announced that it was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. This has resulted in reimposition of the economic hardship on Iran. We investigated the patients' perceptions of hardship in obtaining their antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) after the reimposition of sanctions. METHODS: We surveyed patients with epilepsy visiting three centers in Iran on February 2nd to 6th (easy sampling) on their perceptions on two issues: RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-four patients participated. Ninety-two patients (37.7%) claimed that they have had significant difficulty obtaining their AEDs, and 37 patients (15.2%) said that their AED(s) was not accessible. Ninety-six people (72%) of those receiving imported AEDs and 33 patients (30%) of those receiving homemade AEDs had significant hardship obtaining their drugs (p = 0.00001). Forty-seven patients (36%) of those who reported significant hardship obtaining their AEDs and 25 (22%) of those who did not, perceived worsening of their seizures (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Sanctions have affected ordinary people, especially those who are vulnerable the most (i.e., patients), significantly.