Sudden cardiac arrest in epilepsy patients undergoing continuous video electroencephalogram monitoring: The national inpatient sample

Mary Connolly, Alain Lekoubou, Kinfe G. Bishu, Bruce Ovbiagele

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between epilepsy and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and identify clinical and healthcare system related predictors of SCA in patients with a discharge diagnosis of epilepsy undergoing continuous video EEG (cVEEG) monitoring. Methods: The national inpatient sample was used as data source to identify adults (18 years and older) with a primary discharge diagnosis of epilepsy who were at some point during their hospitalization on cVEEG monitoring. We applied a logistic regression model to identify independent patient-related and hospital/healthcare system-related factors associated with SCA. Results: A total of weighted 10,059 (0.71 %) patients with epilepsy on cVEEG had a secondary discharge diagnosis of SCA. The main independent factors associated with SCA were the presence of any of the following secondary discharge diagnoses: paroxysmal arrhythmia (OR: 2.29, 95 %CI: 1.96–2.66), myocardial infarction (OR: 3.78, 95 %CI: 2.83–5.05), congestive heart failure (OR: 2.27, 95 %CI: 1.93–2.62), and anoxic brain injury (OR: 57.6, 95 %CI: 50.83–67.27). There was no association between refractory epilepsy and SCA (OR: 0.99, 95 %CI: 0.51–1.93). Conclusion: SCA is a rare event occurring in < 1% of patients with epilepsy undergoing cVEEG monitoring in the United States. Key independent contributors to occurrence of SCA are presence of select cardiovascular conditions and anoxic brain injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106487
JournalEpilepsy Research
Volume168
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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