Incidence and mortality in adults with epilepsy in northern Spain

Abstract

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, 1 epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic diseases worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of 50 million cases. Patients with epilepsy are three times more likely to die than the general population. 1 The estimated global incidence of epilepsy is 61.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants a year, although rates are lower in more developed countries. 1 One of the largest epidemiologic studies of epilepsy to date found an incidence of 44 cases per 100,000 population. 2 In Europe, the incidence in adults has been reported at between 24 and 56 cases, 3 while closer to our region, in southwest France, the rate is 71 cases per 100,000 population, but this includes single seizures. 4

Epilepsy and mortality: a retrospective cohort analysis with a nested case–control study identifying causes and risk factors from primary care and linkage-derived data

“…3 Mortality rates of PWE are higher than for the general population. [4][5][6][7][8][9] A longitudinal cohort study from Sweden found that an epilepsy diagnosis was associated with a 14-fold increased risk of all-cause death. 5 Some studies suggest that this has not changed over time.…”

The Metabolic Role of Ketogenic Diets in Treating Epilepsy

“…One study has linked epilepsy to 15% of deaths, and it remains unclear how to lessen this risk, while other studies reported 87.5% mortalities due to non-epileptic reasons [ 23 ]. Age, generalized seizures, and other independent variables raise the risk of death among epileptic patients [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Real-Life Effectiveness and Tolerability of Brivaracetam in Focal to Bilateral and Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

“…At six months' follow-up, older age at epilepsy onset (25.8 vs. 17.1 years; p = 0 025), shorter epilepsy duration (11.6 vs. 16.9 years; p = 0 035), fewer previous ASMs (median (IQR): 3 [1][2][3][4][5] vs. 5 [3][4][5][6][7]; p < 0 001), and lower seizure frequency at baseline (median 0.3 vs. 2.3; p < 0 001) were associated with higher response rates in the overall sei-zure count. Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were less likely to respond (48.1% vs. 84%; p < 0 001).…”

“…A considerable percentage of patients with epilepsy do not achieve seizure freedom with initial antiseizure medications (ASMs) [1,2]. Bilateral tonic-clonic seizures are associated with higher morbidity and mortality in epilepsy patients [3,4]; a higher risk of physical injury, traumatic lesions, and sudden unexpected death [4][5][6][7][8]; and poorer quality of life scores [9]. Hence, it is of great clinical interest to control tonic-clonic seizures (both focal to bilateral and primary generalized), to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.…”