Epilepsy-related deaths increased by 47% from 2005 to 2014, according to a new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Greenlund et al report that age-adjusted epilepsy mortality rates per 100,000 jumped from 0.58 to 0.85 in this time span. The increase warrants more attention be paid to preventive measures and the need for heightened attention and monitoring of epilepsy-related deaths, according to the researchers. Among non-Hispanic Blacks, epilepsy-related deaths were higher than in non-Hispanic Whites in 2014 (1.42/100,000 compared to 0.86/100,000). The report also found that males were more likely to die (1.01/100,000 vs 0.74/100,000).
Greenlund SF, Croft JB, Kibau R. Epilepsy by the Numbers. Epilepsy Behav. 2017; 69:28-30.
