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MORTALITY OF EPILEPSY PATIENTS
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 22:54I have read that because of epilepsy-ralated deaths, individuals with epilepsy have a mortality rate substantially higher than the general popoluation. This is due to SUDEP (or sudden unexplained death in epilepsy patients).
Does anyone here know how the life expectancy of an epileptic compares with the general population when taking in account accidents that occur during a seizure?
Re: MORTALITY OF EPILEPSY PATIENTS
Submitted by s10sleeper on Tue, 2011-10-04 - 22:32
From what I have researched, it can vary from the type of epilepsy and the focal points. Those with Simple partial seizures are at less risk than most others. Another factor is if the seizures are refractory. The risk of SUDEP in the average epileptic is 1 in 3000 per year. In adults with refractory epilepsy that take multiple meds that risk is about 1 in 100 per year. If your seizures are infrequent, the death rate is more comparable to the average person. Most epileptics do not die from SUDEP as it is extremely rare, in epilepsy related deaths they are normally due to some form of accident, and there is still alot of debate as to what exactly constitutes SUDEP. Dr. Orrin Devinsky, co founder of epilepsy therapy project wrote a good book explaining alot of it, its called Epilepsy, Patient and Family Guide. I bought it a week ago and was so intrigued I had it done in a few days, gives alot of great info.