Home > The role of alcohol dependency in deaths among people with epilepsy recorded by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) in Ireland, 2004-2013.

Lynn, Ena, Lyons, Suzi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4635-6673, Langan, Yvonne, Craig, Sarah and Doherty, Colin (2016) The role of alcohol dependency in deaths among people with epilepsy recorded by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) in Ireland, 2004-2013. Seizure, 45, pp. 52-55.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate deaths among individuals with epilepsy recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI).

METHOD: A descriptive analysis of individuals with a known history of epilepsy in the NDRDI from 2004 to 2013 was undertaken.

RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2013, 225 (2%) of the recorded cases had a documented history of epilepsy, 82 (36%) of whom had epilepsy recorded as the cause of death. Of these 82 deaths, the majority were male (60-73%) and half (median age) were aged 47 years or younger. A post mortem toxicology report was available for 65 (79%) of these deaths, of which over two thirds (44-68%) did not have any antiepileptic drugs present on toxicology. Over two thirds of these deaths, (31-70%) were among people known to be alcohol dependent.

CONCLUSION: The high percentage of individuals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependency that died as a result of epilepsy and who have no antiepileptic drugs in their system at the time of their death, highlights the need for preventative measures for this at-risk group.


Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, Article
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Harm reduction
Date
November 2016
Page Range
pp. 52-55
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
45
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Available)
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