Young adults with epilepsy are at greater risk for neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders than some other patient populations, according to a recent case-control study that looked at hospital admissions, outpatients, and ED visits for adults with epilepsy, migraine, or leg fracture. The study cohort consisted of 5666 adult epilepsy patients between 19 and 25 years of age who were seen in hospitals and EDs, 17,507 patients with migraine, and 5966 patients with leg fractures. The researchers found that 51.8% of patients with epilepsy had behavioral health issues versus 37.6% of those with migraine and 21.6% of patients with fractures. Similarly, patients with epilepsy were 297% more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disorder compared with those with migraine.
Wagner JL, Wilson DA, Kellermann T, el al. Behavioral health in young adults with epilepsy: Implications for transition of care. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;65:7-12.
