Convulsive status epilepticus in adults and adolescents of southwest China: mortality, etiology, and predictors of death.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the initial analysis of mortality, etiology, and predictors of death in a group of patients with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in southwest China.

METHODS: A continuous registration database was established to collect demographic data, etiology, and clinical features of the patients with CSE. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used retrospectively in a total of 203 patients with CSE to identify factors associated with mortality.

RESULTS: The proportion of patients who died within 30 days was 15.8%. The frequency of deaths among female patients (22.1%) was higher than that among males (12.5%). The most prominent etiologic factors in death were CNS infection, toxic/metabolic disease, and head trauma. The most frequently used treatments were diazepam and/or phenobarbital administered intramuscularly. Univariate analysis identified female sex, status epilepticus (SE) as initial symptom, decreased serum sodium, SE duration after admission, and use of mechanical ventilation as being associated with death. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that use of mechanical ventilation, complications, and SE duration after admission were independent predictors of death.

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated the etiology and potential predictors of death in patients with CSE in southwest China. Multicenter investigations with larger samples are required.