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Emergency department seizure epidemiology
Jennifer L Martindale1, Joshua N Goldstein, Daniel J Pallin
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|November 27, 2010
Summary
Seizures affect 11% of people in their lifetime, leading to 1% of emergency department visits. Epilepsy is rarely the cause; common triggers include alcoholism, stroke, infections, and febrile seizures in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Epilepsy affects 3% of US individuals, yet 11% experience seizures lifetime.
- Seizures constitute 1% of emergency department (ED) visits and 3% of prehospital transports.
- Febrile seizures are common in children, while hyponatremia and infection are key in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the causes and characteristics of seizures presenting to emergency departments.
- To differentiate between seizures due to epilepsy and other underlying conditions.
- To assess the incidence and outcomes of status epilepticus in ED patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of emergency department visit data.
- Categorization of seizure causes in adult and pediatric populations.
- Evaluation of status epilepticus prevalence and mortality rates.
Main Results:
- Common adult ED seizure causes include alcoholism, stroke, tumors, trauma, and CNS infections.
- Epilepsy is an infrequent cause of ED seizure visits.
- Status epilepticus affects 7% of ED seizure patients, with an average mortality of 22%.
Conclusions:
- Seizures are a significant reason for emergency care, with diverse etiologies.
- Distinguishing epilepsy from other seizure causes is crucial for appropriate ED management.
- Status epilepticus represents a severe complication with high mortality, necessitating prompt intervention.
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