Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Age-Specific Mechanisms of Sudden Death Associated With Epilepsy
Authors' conclusion
There were significant clinical profile differences by age among individuals with epilepsy, which were observed to be specific for SCD. Age-specific mechanisms should facilitate the development of targeted prevention strategies for SCD in epilepsy.
Study context
- Population
- Out-of-hospital SCD cases with a pre-SCD diagnosis of epilepsy, across all ages, in the general populationtotal SCD cases, 356 (4.3%) with a pre-SCD history of epilepsy
- Participants
- 8,287 cases
- Exposure
- Clinical profile of SCD associated with epilepsy by age
- Outcome
- Proportion of previously diagnosed epilepsy in overall SCD cases, by age
Methodological detailsprospectively ascertained, Portland, Oregon since 2002 and Ventura County, California since 2015
- Prospectively ascertained
- Portland, Oregon since 2002 and Ventura County, California since 2015
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Highest among younger subjects and progressively decreased with age
- P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Drug-resistant epilepsy and prearrest seizures
- Younger subjects had the highest prevalence of drug-resistant epilepsy and prearrest seizures
- P < 0.001
- Shift in clinical profile demarcated by the 50 to 60 years decade
Stroke and mood disorders
- Older subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of stroke and mood disorders, specific for SCD in epilepsy
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Age-Specific Mechanisms of Sudden Death Associated With Epilepsy. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 18 June 2025. doi:10.
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