Sudden death in epilepsy: a study of incidence in a young cohort with epilepsy and learning difficulty.
Sudden death, often seizure related, may occur in patients with epilepsy. Population-based incidence is probably on the order of 1:1,000/year. The incidence is much higher in selected groups, however. We wished to establish the incidence of sudden unexpected death (SUD) in a young cohort with severe epilepsy and learning difficulties. The study cohort included 310 pupils with epilepsy enrolled at a special residential school between April 1970 and April 1993. The follow-up period totaling 4,135 person-years included a period of residence at the school as well as time after leaving. Age and sex standardized overall mortality ratio was 15.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.6-23.0], with 20 of 28 deaths considered epilepsy related. An incidence of sudden death cases of 1:295/year was noted. All 14 sudden deaths occurred when the pupils were not under the close supervision of the school and most were unwitnessed, which has implications for prevention.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D012640:Seizures / Q000401:mortality*