Cause-specific mortality among children and young adults with epilepsy: Results from the U.S. National Child Death Review Case Reporting System

- Cause-specific mortality was reported using data from the U.S. National Child Death Review.
- Data came from children and young adults from 2004 through 2012 in 32 states.
- We compared causes of deaths of those with epilepsy with causes of deaths of those without epilepsy.
- Patients with epilepsy have higher percentages of deaths due to medical conditions.
- Patients with epilepsy have higher percentages of deaths due to accidental drowning.

We investigated causes of death in children and young adults with epilepsy by using data from the U.S. National Child Death Review Case Reporting System (NCDR-CRS), a passive surveillance system composed of comprehensive information related to deaths reviewed by local child death review teams. Information on a total of 48,697 deaths in children and young adults 28 days to 24 years of age, including 551 deaths with epilepsy and 48,146 deaths without epilepsy, was collected from 2004 through 2012 in 32 states. In a proportionate mortality analysis by official manner of death, decedents with epilepsy had a significantly higher percentage of natural deaths but significantly lower percentages of deaths due to accidents, homicide, and undetermined causes compared with persons without epilepsy. With respect to underlying causes of death, decedents with epilepsy had significantly higher percentages of deaths due to drowning and most medical conditions including pneumonia and congenital anomalies but lower percentages of deaths due to asphyxia, weapon use, and unknown causes compared with decedents without epilepsy. The increased percentages of deaths due to pneumonia and drowning in children and young adults with epilepsy suggest preventive interventions including immunization and better instruction and monitoring before or during swimming. State-specific and national population-based mortality studies of children and young adults with epilepsy are recommended.