Seizure-related injuries, drowning and vehicular crashes -- a critical review of the literature

Abstract

Injury is common in patients with epilepsy, can have serious consequences (fractures, burns), and can sometimes even be fatal (drowning, vehicular crashes). Seizure-related injuries, drowning, and vehicular crashes have been investigated across differing populations using various methodologies hindering consistent estimates with respect to its frequency, magnitude, and potential risk factors. Knowledge is further complicated by the low incidence of injury outcomes, the not insignificant background frequency of injury in the general population, and the emphasis on seizure-related explanatory mechanisms. Although not without its own complexity, privacy preserving data linkage is an emerging powerful technique that is being increasingly used in epilepsy and other chronic conditions to answer important questions, especially when measuring low incidence health outcomes prospectively, such as injury. This review examines the frequency of overall and specific seizure-related injures, describes the known risk factors and finally suggests future directions for research that may improve our understanding in the area.