title: Cause-specific mortality among children and young adults with epilepsy: Results from the U.S. National Child Death Review Case Reporting System.
abstract: We investigated causes of death in children and young adults with epilepsy by using data from the U.S. National Child Death Review Case Reporting System (NCDR-CRS), a passive surveillance system composed of comprehensive information related to deaths reviewed by local child death review teams. Information on a total of 48,697 deaths in children and young adults 28days to 24years of age, including 551 deaths with epilepsy and 48,146 deaths without epilepsy, was collected from 2004 through 2012 in 32 states. In a proportionate mortality analysis by official manner of death, decedents with epilepsy had a significantly higher percentage of natural deaths but significantly lower percentages of deaths due to accidents, homicide, and undetermined causes compared with persons without epilepsy. With respect to underlying causes of death, decedents with epilepsy had significantly higher percentages of deaths due to drowning and most medical conditions including pneumonia and congenital anomalies but lower percentages of deaths due to asphyxia, weapon use, and unknown causes compared with decedents without epilepsy. The increased percentages of deaths due to pneumonia and drowning in children and young adults with epilepsy suggest preventive interventions including immunization and better instruction and monitoring before or during swimming. State-specific and national population-based mortality studies of children and young adults with epilepsy are recommended.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. Electronic address: vii9@cdc.gov.
authors: Niu
authors: N
authors: Tian
authors: Michigan Public Health Institute, National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Okemos, MI 48864, USA.
authors: Esther C
authors: EC
authors: Shaw
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Zack
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Epilepsy Program, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-78, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors: Rosemarie
authors: R
authors: Kobau
authors: Michigan Public Health Institute, National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Okemos, MI 48864, USA.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Dykstra
authors: Michigan Public Health Institute, National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Okemos, MI 48864, USA.
authors: Theresa M
authors: TM
authors: Covington
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000401:mortality*; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013550:Swimming; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child; Death; Epilepsy; Infant; Mortality