Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40133571›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2025

Mortality in patients with epilepsy: a systematic review.

Xinwei Xu, Leihao Sha, Sijia Basang, Anjiao Peng, Xiangyang Zhou, Yanxu Liu, Yixuan Li, Lei Chen

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Genetic Diagnosis in Epilepsy: Implications for Clinical Management.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Forensic neuropathology: 2026 update.Free neuropathology · 2026
    Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xinwei Xu *Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Leihao Sha *Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Sijia BasangDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Anjiao PengDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Xiangyang ZhouDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Yanxu LiuDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Yixuan LiDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Lei ChenDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China. leilei_25@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5263-5540

Funding

Science and Technology Major Project of Sichuan Province Grant Recipient
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpilepsy is linked to a significantly higher risk of death, yet public awareness remains low. This study aims to investigate mortality characteristics, to reduce epilepsy-related deaths and improve prevention strategies.

methodsThis study systematically reviews mortality data in relevant literature from PubMed and Embase up until June 2024. Data quality is assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and analysis includes trends, regional differences, and the economic impact of premature death. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data are used to validate trends. In addition, a review of guidelines and expert statements on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is included to explore intervention strategies and recommendations.

resultsAnnual mortality rates of epilepsy have gradually declined, mainly due to improvements in low-income countries, while high-income regions have experienced an upward trend. Male patients exhibit higher mortality rates than females. Age-based analysis shows that the elderly contributes most to this increase due to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and pneumonia related to epilepsy. This may be a key factor contributing to the increased mortality among epilepsy patients in aging high-income regions. Accidents and suicides are more prevalent in low-income regions. The highest mortality risks occur in the early years post-diagnosis and during prolonged, uncontrolled epilepsy. SUDEP remains a leading cause of death.

conclusionThis study highlights the impact of gender, region, and disease duration on epilepsy mortality. Future research should focus on elderly epilepsy patients mortality characteristics and personalized interventions for SUDEP.

Indexed as

EpilepsySudden Unexpected Death in EpilepsyFemaleGlobal Burden of DiseaseHumansMaleEpilepsyGlobal Burden of Disease (GBD)MortalitySudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Identifiers

PMID40133571
PMCPMC11937074

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.