Clinical Outcomes and Systemic Complications Related to the Severity and Etiology of Status Epilepticus Using a...

Status epilepticus (SE) is a critical neurological emergency in patients with neurological and nonneurological diseases. Mortality rises with SE severity. However, whether brain injury or systemic organ dysfunction causes death after SE remains unclear. We studied clinical outcomes and systemic dysfunctions associated with SE using standardized data from the common data model. This model includes clinical evaluations and treatments that provide real-world evidence for standard practice.

This retrospective cohort study used the common data model database of a single tertiary academic medical center. Patients diagnosed with SE (corresponding to G41 of the International Classification of Diseases 10 and administration of antiseizure medication) between January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2018, were enrolled. Demographics, classifications of SE severity, and outcomes were collected as operational definitions by using a common data model format. Systemic complications were defined based on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment criteria.

The electronic medical records of 1,825,196 patients were transformed into a common data model, and 410 patients were enrolled. The proportion of patients classified as having nonrefractory SE was 65.4% (268/410), followed by refractory (28.5%, 117/410) and super-refractory SE (6.1%, 25/410). Patients with more severe SE had longer intensive care unit and hospital stays. Renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia were higher in the in-hospital death group (P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). In multivariable analysis, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and platelet count were significantly different in the in-hospital death group (odds ratio, 1.169, P = 0.004; and 0.989, P = 0.043).

Systemic complications after SE, especially low platelet counts, were linked to worse outcomes and increased mortality in a common data model. The common data model offers expandability and comprehensive analysis, making it a potentially valuable tool for SE research.