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New onset seizures in the elderly: aetiology and prognosis.
Timmons, S Sweeney, B Hyland, M O'Mahony, D Twomey, C
Timmons, S
Sweeney, B
Hyland, M
O'Mahony, D
Twomey, C
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-03T15:10:43Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use
Comorbidity
Epilepsy/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality/prevention & control
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use
Comorbidity
Epilepsy/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality/prevention & control
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Files
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Article2297.pdf
Adobe PDF, 13.27 KB
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
Late onset epilepsy is increasing in incidence. These patients often have significant underlying morbidity. This retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre identified 68 patients aged 65 years or older, with new onset seizures over a four-year period. 81% of patients (n = 55) were followed up at an average of 2.7 years post diagnosis. 38% of patients had evidence of cerebrovascular disease (CT visualised focal infarction, haemorrhage or small vessel ischaemia in 32%, clinical diagnosis with normal CT brain in 6%). No patient was found to have a space-occupying lesion. Of the 55 patients followed up, 45% of these had died at a mean age of 82 years old and 1.9 years post diagnosis (range 12 hours to 5 years). Three patients died as a direct result of seizures (trauma and sepsis). 14 patients died of clearly unrelated causes. Eight patients died from underlying vascular disease or Alzheimer's dementia. Patients who died during follow-up were on average 3.4 years older at the time of diagnosis than survivors (p< 0.05). Patients with atrial fibrillation at the time of diagnosis, had increased mortality (relative risk 2.53; 95% C.I. 1.19 - 5.36), but they were older than those without atrial fibrillation. At the time of follow up, 92% of those taking anti-convulsants were maintained seizure free on anticonvulsant monotherapy.
Language
eng
Citation
ISSN
0332-3102 (Print)
0332-3102 (Linking)
0332-3102 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
PMID
11989947