29.05.2018 | Original Communication | Ausgabe 8/2018 Open Access
The occurrence of seizures after ischemic stroke does not influence long-term mortality; a 26-year follow-up study
- Zeitschrift:
- Journal of Neurology > Ausgabe 8/2018
Wichtige Hinweise
A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-018-9020-7.
Abstract
Objective
Epileptic seizures are a common complication after stroke. The relation between occurrence of seizures after stroke and long-term mortality remains elusive. We aimed to assess whether seizures in an early or late phase after ischemic stroke are an independent determinant of long-term mortality.
Methods
We prospectively included and followed 444 ischemic stroke patients with a first-ever supratentorial brain infarct for at least 2 years after their stroke regarding the occurrence of seizures. The final follow-up for mortality is from April 2015 (follow-up duration 24.5–27.8 years, mean 26.0 years, SD 0.9 years). We compared patients with early-onset seizures with all seizure-free patients, whereas the patients with late-onset seizures were compared with the 1-week survivors without any seizures. We used Cox-regression analyses to correct for possible confounding factors.
Results
Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly higher mortality for the patients with early-onset seizures (p = 0.002) but after correction for known risk factors for (long term) mortality early-onset seizures had no independent influence on long-term mortality (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.64–1.85). In patients with late-onset seizures, no significant influence from late-onset seizures on long-term mortality was found (univariate p = 0.717; multivariate HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.54–1.20).
Conclusion
Both early-onset and late-onset seizures do not influence long-term mortality after ischemic stroke.
