Epilepsy-heart syndrome: Concept, clinical context, and opportunity for integrated care

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Integrated Care

Background:

• Epilepsy and cardiac disorders share a bidirectional relationship, where each can be a risk factor for the other.
• The concept of epilepsy-heart syndrome acknowledges this shared burden, irrespective of the initial condition.
• Ictal asystole serves as a clinical example highlighting the risks of fragmented care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define epilepsy-heart syndrome.
• To underscore the unmet need for integrated neurological and cardiological care.
• To propose a framework for collaborative management of this syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual paper outlining the epilepsy-heart syndrome.
• Clinical case examples, including ictal asystole, to illustrate the syndrome.
• Proposal of an integrated care framework based on existing successful initiatives.

Main Results:

• Epilepsy-heart syndrome is proposed as a unifying concept for co-occurring epilepsy and cardiac conditions.
• Failure in integrated care for conditions like ictal asystole can lead to patient harm.
• A framework for multidisciplinary team collaboration between neurology and cardiology is suggested.

Conclusions:

• Epilepsy-heart syndrome represents a significant unmet need requiring collaborative care.
• Integrated care models, such as multidisciplinary team meetings and joint guidelines, are essential.
• Establishing joint educational programs and national guidelines can improve patient outcomes.