Shock study reveals ‘failure of medical system’ causing multitude of EPILEPSY deaths

Health experts say the medical system has 'failed' reporting epilepsy deaths

 

ALARMING new research claims that ‘we have done far too little for far too long’ when it comes to the brain disorder.

 

A new report has called for stronger medical action to halt the 'hidden number' of epilepsy-related deaths. 

Medical experts behind the study say that misreported fatalities mean we only see the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to the brain disorder. 

 

The report, published in the Neurology journal, found epilepsy is responsible for more deaths than fires and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the US. 

In fact, sudden unexpected deaths in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the second largest cause of total life years lost, after a stroke. 

 



The report says misreporting the cause of epilepsy deaths is contributing to the issue



 

Epilepsy is a brain disorder which causes normal neuronal activity to be disturbed. 

It can be caused by factors such as stroke, abnormal brain development or illness and can trigger effects such as subtle changes in emotions to seizures and loss of consciousness. 

In the worst cases, it can lead to death. 

Lead author of the study and professor of neurology Dr Orrin Devinsky said epilepsy mortality is an ‘enormous problem’ that kills more than 5,000 Americans each year.

 

 



Sudden expected deaths in epilepsy is the second largest cause of death in the US



 

In the report, Dr Devinsky said: “We have done far too little for far too long. Efforts to assess and prevent epilepsy-related death have been distressingly inadequate.” 

And how has this happened?

Dr Devinsky told Yahoo Health: "It's been a failure of our medical system". 

According to Medical News Today, a death certificate will rarely put epilepsy or seizures as the cause of death.

This can be because of a range of reasons, such as being classified as ‘cardiovascular’ or ‘pnemonia’ if such conditions are detected at the time of death. 

 

Epilepsy is a brain disorder which causes normal neuronal activity to be disturbed

 

Authors of the study say more emphasis is needed on the importance of taking medication regularly.

Dr Devinksy says: “Yet few studies have looked at how we can help people remember to take their medicines. 

The report also urges for an increase in education about seizures and how to both handle and prevent them. 

As the researchers say: “Everyone with epilepsy and everyone who treats people with epilepsy need to know that controlling seizures will save lives.”