title: The role of alcohol dependency in deaths among people with epilepsy recorded by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) in Ireland, 2004-2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate deaths among individuals with epilepsy recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive analysis of individuals with a known history of epilepsy in the NDRDI from 2004 to 2013 was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2004 and 2013, 225 (2%) of the recorded cases had a documented history of epilepsy, 82 (36%) of whom had epilepsy recorded as the cause of death. Of these 82 deaths, the majority were male (60-73%) and half (median age) were aged 47 years or younger. A post mortem toxicology report was available for 65 (79%) of these deaths, of which over two thirds (44-68%) did not have any antiepileptic drugs present on toxicology. Over two thirds of these deaths, (31-70%) were among people known to be alcohol dependent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high percentage of individuals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependency that died as a result of epilepsy and who have no antiepileptic drugs in their system at the time of their death, highlights the need for preventative measures for this at-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Health Research Board, Grattan House, 67-72 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: elynn@hrb.ie.
authors.forename: Ena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.affiliation: Health Research Board, Grattan House, 67-72 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Suzi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Langan
authors.affiliation: Health Research Board, Grattan House, 67-72 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Alcohol dependency; Deaths; Epilepsy; SUDEP