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Wartmann H, Effenberger T, Klähn H, Volmer T, Surges R. [Incidence of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP): update and limitations]. DER NERVENARZT 2024; 95:544-552. [PMID: 38252160 PMCID: PMC11178670 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-023-01595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is in most cases probably due to a fatal complication of tonic-clonic seizures and plays a significant role in the premature mortality of individuals with epilepsy. The reported risks of SUDEP vary considerably depending on the study population, so that an up-dated systematic review of SUDEP incidence including most recent studies is required to improve the estimated SUDEP risk and the counseling of individuals with epilepsy. OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of the current research landscape concerning SUDEP incidence across different patient populations and discuss potential conclusions and existing limitations. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic literature review on SUDEP incidence was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE, supplemented by a manual search in June 2023. Out of a total of 3324 publications, 50 were reviewed for this study. RESULTS The analyzed studies showed significant heterogeneity concerning cohorts, study design and data sources. Studies conducted without specific criteria and relying on comprehensive registers indicated an incidence of 0.78-1.2 per 1000 patient-years. Research providing incidences across various age groups predominantly show an increase with age, peaking in middle age. DISCUSSION Due to varying methods of data collection and incidence calculation, comparing between studies is challenging. The association with age might be due to an underrepresentation of children, adolescents and patients over 60 years. CONCLUSION Considering all age groups and types of epilepsy it is estimated that about 1 in 1000 individuals with epilepsy dies of SUDEP annually. With an assumed epilepsy prevalence of 0.6% in Germany, this could lead to more than one SUDEP case daily. Standardization of research methods is essential to gain more profound insights.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Timm Volmer
- SmartStep Data Institute GmbH, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - Rainer Surges
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Epileptologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
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Schwab C, Wadle NE, Knake S, von Podewils F, Siebenbrodt K, Kohlhase K, Schulz J, Menzler K, Mann C, Rosenow F, Seifart C, Strzelczyk A. Patients' knowledge about epilepsy-related risks, morbidity, and mortality: A multicenter cohort study from Germany. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 124:108343. [PMID: 34619541 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patient education is a central component of quality care. Enhancing patient knowledge can improve patients' quality of life and facilitate successful self-management. We sought to identify patients' knowledge levels and knowledge gaps regarding epilepsy-related risks, morbidity, and mortality. METHODS Adult patients with epilepsy presenting to the university hospitals in Frankfurt, Greifswald, and Marburg between February 2018 and May 2020 were asked to participate in this questionnaire-based study. RESULTS A total of 238 patients (52% women), with a mean age of 39.2 years (range: 18-77 years), participated in this study. Spontaneously, the majority of patients (51.3%) named driving a car, and other traffic-related accidents as possible causes of morbidity and mortality, and 23.9% of patients reported various causes of premature death, such as suffocation, drowning, and respiratory or cardiac arrest due to seizures. Falls due to epilepsy (19.7%) and injuries in general (17.6%) were named as further causes of morbidity and mortality. The vast majority were aware that alcohol (87.4%), sleep deprivation (86.6%), and risky activities in daily life (80.3%) increased the risk of seizure occurrence or increased morbidity and mortality. Regarding overall mortality, 52.1% thought that people with epilepsy were at greater risk of premature death, whereas 46.2% denied this fact to be true. Only 29.4% were aware of status epilepticus, and 27.3% were aware of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Driving ability, working ability, and seizure risk were named as major or moderate concerns among patients, but the risk of premature mortality was not a major concern. One-quarter of all patients (26.9%) indicated that they were not counseled about any risk factors or causes of morbidity or mortality by their physicians. CONCLUSIONS A lack of knowledge concerning premature mortality, SUDEP, and status epilepticus exists among adult patients with epilepsy. A substantial number of patients indicated that these issues were not discussed adequately by their physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schwab
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nora-Elena Wadle
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Knake
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Felix von Podewils
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kai Siebenbrodt
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Konstantin Kohlhase
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Juliane Schulz
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katja Menzler
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Catrin Mann
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Carola Seifart
- Institutional Review Board, Medical Faculty, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany.
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