Association Between Antiseizure Drug Monotherapy and Mortality for Patients With Poststroke Epilepsy

There is little evidence to guide the choice of antiseizure medication (ASM) for patients with poststroke epilepsy. Theoretical concerns about detrimental effects of ASMs on survival exist. Enzyme-inducing drugs could interfere with secondary stroke prevention. The US Food and Drug Administration recently issued a safety announcement about the potential proarrhythmic properties of lamotrigine.

To investigate whether mortality varies with specific ASMs among patients with poststroke epilepsy.

A cohort study was conducted using individual-level data from linked registers on all adults in Sweden with acute stroke from July 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010, and subsequent onset of epilepsy before December 31, 2014. A total of 2577 patients receiving continuous ASM monotherapy were eligible for the study. Data were analyzed between May 27, 2019, and April 8, 2021.

The dispensed ASM (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code N03A) determined exposure status, and the first dispensation date marked the start of treatment.

The primary outcome, all-cause death, was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression with carbamazepine as the reference. Cardiovascular death (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes I0-I99 as the underlying cause) was assessed using Fine-Gray competing risk regression models.

A total of 2577 patients (1400 men [54%]; median age, 78 years [IQR, 69-85 years]) were included. The adjusted hazard ratio of all-cause death compared with carbamazepine was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.86) for lamotrigine, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.80-1.15) for levetiracetam, 1.40 (95% CI, 1.23-1.59) for valproic acid, 1.16 (95% CI, 0.88-1.51) for phenytoin, and 1.16 (95% CI, 0.81-1.66) for oxcarbazepine. The adjusted hazard ratio of cardiovascular death compared with carbamazepine was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.61-0.95) for lamotrigine, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.60-0.99) for levetiracetam, 1.40 (95% CI, 1.19-1.64) for valproic acid, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.71-1.47) for phenytoin, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.42-1.18) for oxcarbazepine.

This cohort study's findings suggest differences in survival between patients treated with different ASMs for poststroke epilepsy. Patients receiving lamotrigine monotherapy had significantly lower mortality compared with those receiving carbamazepine. The opposite applied to patients prescribed valproic acid, who had a higher risk of cardiovascular and all-cause death. Levetiracetam was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death compared with carbamazepine, but there was no significant difference in overall mortality.