{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Population-Based Analysis of 6534 Seizure Emergency Cases from Emergency Medical Services Data.
{Author}: Gerhard A;Rosenow F;Möckel L;Jöres L;Ma Y;Liou HSC;Strzelczyk A;
{Journal}: Neurol Ther
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 2
{Factor}: 4.446
{DOI}: 10.1007/s40120-024-00641-6
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Seizures are common reasons to call an ambulance, and this study aims to analyze the burden of seizures in the prehospital setting based on incidence, hospital admission rate, and costs.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>This was a population-based, cross-sectional analysis of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) data on suspected seizure cases from the federal state of Hesse, Germany, in 2019.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 6534 suspected seizure cases were identified, of which most were those with a known seizure disorder. Incidence rate for epilepsy-related seizures (ES; pediatric epilepsy, first seizure [1stS], seizure with known seizure disorder [SEPI]) was 205.7 per 100,000 inhabitants and incidence rate for pediatric febrile seizures (PFS) was 36.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, corresponding to 171,275 ES and 28,500 PFS (99.3% < 18 years) cases in Germany. A prehospital EMS physician was involved in 40.0% (SEPI) to 54.4% (PFS) of suspected seizure cases. Depending on the type of seizure, 70.7% (SEPI) to 80.9% (1stS) were admitted to hospital for inpatient stay of ≥ 24 h. An additional 4% (PFS) to 16% (1stS) of cases needed immediate intervention at hospital. Prehospital EMS staff needed 8:24 min:s (SD 7:24; n = 5004) after the emergency call to arrive at the scene of the ES and 10:58 min:s (SD 27:39; n = 321) for PFS. ES and PFS cases caused estimated costs of 48.5 and 8.1 million euros for Germany in 2019, respectively, not including hospital treatment-related costs.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This study identified a high number of suspected seizure-related emergency cases and proportion of patients admitted to hospitals, as well as high associated costs in Germany.