Falling status epilepticus mortality rates in England and Wales: 2001-2013?

Status epilepticus (SE) is associated with significant mortality and accounts for ~10% of epilepsy-related deaths. Epilepsy and SE mortality data from 2001 to 2013, in addition to annual age group populations for England and Wales, were obtained from the Office of National Statistics website (www.ons.gov.uk). Age-adjusted mortality rates for epilepsy and SE with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the European Standard Population. Trends in mortality rates for both epilepsy and SE were investigated using the Spearman coefficient. The crude mean epilepsy mortality rate per 100,000 person-years between 2001 and 2013 was 1.87 (95% CI 1.83-1.91), with a corresponding SE mortality rate of 0.14 (95% CI 0.13-0.15). The mean age-adjusted epilepsy mortality rate per 100,000 person years was 3.24 (95% CI 3.12-3.35), with a corresponding SE mortality rate of 0.24 (95% CI 0.21-0.27). All epilepsy deaths significantly decreased from 2001 to 2013 (Spearman's ρ -0.733, p = 0.004); this decrease was predominantly due to a decrease in SE deaths (Spearman's ρ -0.917, p < 0.001). In summary, our finding supports the hypothesis that the policy of early and aggressive treatment of SE may be improving the prognosis of this condition in England and Wales.