Trends in Status Epilepticus-Related Mortality Disparities in the United States, 1999-2020

Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurologic emergency. Although health disparities in epilepsy are well-documented, disparities in SE mortality are not fully understood. This study analyzes mortality trends and demographics in the United States from 1999 through 2020.

This was a retrospective study of national data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research platform. We identified annual deaths due to SE for the years 1999 through 2020, stratified by age and by race and ethnicity.

From 1999 through 2020, there were 16,491 deaths due to SE in the United States. Overall, there was nearly a 2-fold increase in the age-standardized mortality due to the SE rate from 1999 to 2020 (0.13 per 100,000 persons [95% CI 0.11-0.15] in 1999 to 0.25 per 100,000 persons [95% CI 0.23-0.27] in 2020). This increase was most pronounced among older individuals (aged 75 years and older, followed by ages 50-74 years), and in non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals.

Over the past 2 decades, deaths attributed to SE have increased. This increase was most pronounced among individuals aged 75 years or older and Black or African Americans. Investigation into the underlying causes of SE-related mortality and reasons for these disparities is needed.