FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH EMERGENCY ATTENDANCES FOR EPILEPSY. Issue 10 (9th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lynch, EC; Lacey, AS; Pickrell, WO; Smith, PEM; Rees, MI; Wardle, M
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 85:Issue 10(2014)
• Page Start: e4
• Page End: e4
• Publication Date: 2014-09-09
• Subjects: EPILEPSY; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-309236.73
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To identify factors associated with emergency department (ED) attendance amongst patients with epilepsy. Methods: Linked electronic primary care and ED health care records were analysed between 1998 and 2012 using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank. Adults with epilepsy were identified and categorised according to their number of ED attendances for epilepsy. Additional linked records were examined to obtain demographic, socioeconomic and psychiatric co-morbidity information. Results: 7292 patients with epilepsy were identified. ED attendance with epilepsy as the primary reason for attendance occurred on a single occasion in 790 (11%) patients, and on two or more occasions for a further 751 (10%) patients. Social deprivation and living alone were significantly associated with ED attendance (p=0.001 and p=0.005). Individuals who had attended A&E for their epilepsy were significantly more likely to suffer from psychiatric co-morbidities (p<0.001) and learning disabilities (p=0.002). Age, gender and the rate of GP annual review were not found to be significantly associated with ED attendances for epilepsy. Conclusion: Social deprivation, social isolation and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities in a patient population should be taken into account when constructing policy relating to epilepsy services.