Seizures in brain tumor hospitalizations in the United States

A feasibility analysis was conducted using a national US hospitalization database to examine the prevalence and outcomes of concomitant seizures in brain tumor hospitalizations.

All hospitalizations in adults aged ≥18 years with a primary/secondary diagnosis of brain tumor were studied from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016-2020. Hospitalizations were classified into groups (with and without a recorded diagnosis of seizures [including epilepsy]).

Overall, 1,503,885 brain tumor hospitalizations were assessed. The prevalence of brain tumors varied throughout the study period, from 114-124 per 100,000 population. A total of 305,040 (20.3%) hospitalizations had concomitant seizures. Those aged ≥65 years had higher prevalence of hospitalizations with brain tumors. The Black population generally had the highest proportion of seizures in brain tumor hospitalizations across all study years, apart from 2017 when it was highest in the Native American population. For each study year, length of hospital stay was significantly longer and mean charges were significantly higher in brain tumor hospitalizations with seizures versus those without seizures. Case fatality was generally lower in brain tumor hospitalizations with seizures versus without seizures, and was significantly lower in 2016, 2017, and 2020.

Data from this analysis highlight differences in demographics and outcomes between patients with and without seizures and could be used to inform future analyses in this area.