OBJECTIVES: Estimate the causes and risk of death, specifically seizure related, in children followed from onset of epilepsy and to contrast the risk of seizure-related death with other common causes of death in the population. METHODS: Mortality experiences from 4 pediatric cohorts of newly diagnosed patients were combined. Causes of death were classified as seizure related (including sudden unexpected death [SUDEP]), natural causes, nonnatural causes, and unknown. RESULTS: Of 2239 subjects followed up for >30 000 person-years, 79 died. Ten subjects with lethal neurometabolic conditions were ultimately excluded. The overall death rate (per 100 000 person-years) was 228; 743 in complicated epilepsy (with associated neurodisability or underlying brain condition) and 36 in uncomplicated epilepsy. Thirteen deaths were seizure-related (10 SUDEP, 3 other), accounting for 19% of all deaths. Seizure-related death rates were 43 overall, 122 for complicated epilepsy, and 14 for uncomplicated epilepsy. Death rates from other natural causes were 159, 561, and 9, respectively. Of 48 deaths from other natural causes, 37 were due to pneumonia or other respiratory complications. CONCLUSIONS: Most excess death in young people with epilepsy is not seizure-related. Mortality is significantly higher compared with the general population in children with complicated epilepsy but not uncomplicated epilepsy. The SUDEP rate was similar to or higher than sudden infant death syndrome rates. In uncomplicated epilepsy, sudden and seizure-related death rates were similar to or higher than rates for other common causes of death in young people (eg, accidents, suicides, homicides). Relating the risk of death in epilepsy to familiar risks may facilitate discussions of seizure-related mortality with patients and families.
OBJECTIVES: Estimate the causes and risk of death, specifically seizure related, in children followed from onset of epilepsy and to contrast the risk of seizure-related death with other common causes of death in the population. METHODS: Mortality experiences from 4 pediatric cohorts of newly diagnosed patients were combined. Causes of death were classified as seizure related (including sudden unexpected death [SUDEP]), natural causes, nonnatural causes, and unknown. RESULTS: Of 2239 subjects followed up for >30 000 person-years, 79 died. Ten subjects with lethal neurometabolic conditions were ultimately excluded. The overall death rate (per 100 000 person-years) was 228; 743 in complicated epilepsy (with associated neurodisability or underlying brain condition) and 36 in uncomplicated epilepsy. Thirteen deaths were seizure-related (10 SUDEP, 3 other), accounting for 19% of all deaths. Seizure-related death rates were 43 overall, 122 for complicated epilepsy, and 14 for uncomplicated epilepsy. Death rates from other natural causes were 159, 561, and 9, respectively. Of 48 deaths from other natural causes, 37 were due to pneumonia or other respiratory complications. CONCLUSIONS: Most excess death in young people with epilepsy is not seizure-related. Mortality is significantly higher compared with the general population in children with complicated epilepsy but not uncomplicated epilepsy. The SUDEP rate was similar to or higher than sudden infant death syndrome rates. In uncomplicated epilepsy, sudden and seizure-related death rates were similar to or higher than rates for other common causes of death in young people (eg, accidents, suicides, homicides). Relating the risk of death in epilepsy to familiar risks may facilitate discussions of seizure-related mortality with patients and families.
Authors: Richard F M Chin; Phillippa M Cumberland; Suresh S Pujar; Catherine Peckham; Euan M Ross; Rod C Scott Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2011-07-18 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Victoria Nesbitt; Martin Kirkpatrick; Gale Pearson; Allan Colver; Rob Forsyth Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2012-04-14 Impact factor: 5.449
Authors: David J Thurman; Giancarlo Logroscino; Ettore Beghi; W Allen Hauser; Dale C Hesdorffer; Charles R Newton; Fulvio Alexandre Scorza; Josemir W Sander; Torbjörn Tomson Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2016-11-26 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Marina Trivisano; Alessandro Ferretti; Elizabeth Bebin; Linda Huh; Gaetan Lesca; Aleksandra Siekierska; Ryo Takeguchi; Maryline Carneiro; Luca De Palma; Ilaria Guella; Kazuhiro Haginoya; Ruo Ming Shi; Atsuo Kikuchi; Tomoko Kobayashi; Julien Jung; Lieven Lagae; Mathieu Milh; Marie L Mathieu; Berge A Minassian; Antonio Novelli; Nicola Pietrafusa; Eri Takeshita; Marco Tartaglia; Alessandra Terracciano; Michelle L Thompson; Gregory M Cooper; Federico Vigevano; Laurent Villard; Nathalie Villeneuve; Gunnar M Buyse; Michelle Demos; Ingrid E Scheffer; Nicola Specchio Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2020-07-09 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Anne T Berg; Courtney Wusthoff; Renée A Shellhaas; Tobias Loddenkemper; Zachary M Grinspan; Russell P Saneto; Kelly G Knupp; Anup Patel; Joseph E Sullivan; Eric H Kossoff; Catherine J Chu; Shavonne Massey; Ignacio Valencia; Cynthia Keator; Elaine C Wirrell; Jason Coryell; John J Millichap; William D Gaillard Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2019-06-07 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: John M Schreiber; Lowell H Frank; Barbara L Kroner; Adrian Bumbut; Moussa O Ismail; William D Gaillard Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2020-10-14 Impact factor: 5.864