Identifying Predictors of Death in Patients with Epileptic and Psychogenic Seizures

Project Aims: To link databases of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program of Melbourne Epilepsy Centres with the National Death Index and National Coroners Database to determine who has died and the cause of death, and to identify risk factors. Project Description: Patients with epilepsy have at least 4 fold increased risk of death, with one of the most common cases being sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) which is up to 40 times more common than age and sex matched people without epilepsy. Identifying patients at risk of premature death is one of the major challenges for the field, so that interventions can been applied to reduce the incidence of this tragic consequence of this common condition. This internationally unique study will link the databases containing detailed clinical and psychosocial data from patients seen in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program of the Royal Melbourne, The Alfred, The Austin and St. Vincent’s over 2 decades with the National Death Index and National Coroners Database to determine who has died, the cause of death and identify risk factors.