Underlying cause of death in incident unprovoked seizures in the urban community of Northern Manhattan, New York City.
We determined underlying cause-specific mortality for incident unprovoked seizures from Northern Manhattan, New York City. We calculated the case fatality, proportionate mortality, and the underlying cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), with U.S. death rates as the standard. Thirty-two deaths were observed between 2003 and 2007 among 209 participants. Case fatality was significantly lower for idiopathic/cryptogenic seizures versus symptomatic seizures. About 31.3% of the deaths were attributed to malignant neoplasms, 25.0% to diseases of the heart, 15.6% to influenza and pneumonia, 3.1% to cerebrovascular diseases, and 25.0% to other causes. Significant SMRs were observed for all causes (SMR = 1.6), influenza and pneumonia (SMR = 7.1), and malignant neoplasms (SMR = 2.9). Younger cases (<65 years) had increased SMRs for all causes, malignant neoplasms, and other causes. Older cases (> or =65 years) had increased SMRs for influenza and pneumonia. Underlying cause of death paralleled the underlying cause of seizure in patients with symptomatic etiologies.
Benn
Emma K T
EK
Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Hauser
W Allen
WA
Shih
Tina
T
Leary
Linda
L
Bagiella
Emilia
E
Dayan
Peter
P
Green
Robert
R
Andrews
Howard
H
Thurman
David J
DJ
Hesdorffer
Dale C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000208:ethnology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*