DETERMINANTS OF MORTALITY IN STATUS EPILEPTICUS

Using univariate and multivariate regression analysis, we studied seiz ure duration, seizure type, age, etiologies, other clinical features, and mortality among 253 adults with status epilepticus (SE) admitted t o the Medical College of Virginia. Cerebral vascular disease and disco ntinuation of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were the most prominent cause s of SE, each accounting for similar to 22% of all patients in the ser ies. The other principle etiologies were alcohol withdrawal, idiopathi c, anoxia, metabolic disorders, hemorrhage, infection, tumor, drug ove rdose, and trauma. When the patients were divided into two groups, the group with SE lasting <1 h had a lower mortality as compared with sei zure duration greater than or equal to 1 h. Low mortality rates were n oted in alcohol and AED discontinuation etiologies. Anoxia and increas ing age were significantly correlated with higher mortality. The morta lity rates of partial and generalized SE were not significantly differ ent. Race and sex did not affect mortality significantly. Our findings represent the first multivariate analysis of predictive indicators of mortality in SE and demonstrate that specific factors influence morta lity rate in SE.