Comparing Seizure-Related Death and Suicide in Younger Adults with Epilepsy.

Kløvgaard, Marius; Lynge, Thomas H; Tsiropoulos, Ioannis; Uldall, Peter V; Banner, Jytte; Winkel, Bo G; Ryvlin, Philippe; Tfelt-Hansen, Jacob et al. · Ann Neurol · 2021

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

Younger adults with epilepsy have an increased mortality. Some deaths are seizure-related, for example, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), whereas others, for example, suicide, have multiple causes, including adverse effects of the treatment on mood. In this retrospective population-based study of all Danish persons with epilepsy aged 18 to 49 years during 2007 to 2009 we evaluated the risk of death from seizures and suicide. SUDEP comprised 82.7% of all seizure-related death. Younger adults with epilepsy had an 8.3-fold increased risk of death from seizure-related causes compared with suicide. This underpins the importance of effective seizure control in preventing premature death. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:983-987.

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