Harvard: Epilepsy Dramatically Increases Risk of Delivery Complications, Death

We are not now treating these pregnancies at high risk, so an overall shift may be needed in our perception of the risk in pregnancy for women in epilepsy.

Women with epilepsy also had higher rates of preeclampsia, preterm labor, and stillbirth.

Statistics provided the Epilepsy Foundation reveal that the average incidence of epilepsy each year in the United States alone is estimated at 150,000 or 48 for every 100,000 people. Also even though the risk of death is increased in comparison with women who do not have epilepsy the death of the mother during delivery still occurs seldom even in the case of pregnant women with epilepsy.

“Specifically, there were 80 deaths per 100,000 women with epilepsy versus six deaths per 100,000 in women without epilepsy”, lead researcher Sarah MacDonald, from the department of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women using records from the 2007-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a representative sample of 20% of all USA hospitals.

But while the study, published online this week by JAMA Neurology, appeared to confirm a direct link between epilepsy and birth-related deaths, the researchers did not take into account the actual causes of death for the women who lost their lives. The women also had increased health care utilization, including an increased risk of cesarean delivery and prolonged hospital stay, regardless of delivery method.

The researchers went on to add that disregarding any specific cause, the message that women having epilepsy faced an enhanced risk of mortality during pregnancy/child birth is clinically relevant and calls for greater attention to the subject.

Researchers also found that women affected by epilepsy also had a higher risk of mental disorders, high blood pressure, substance abuse and type 2 diabetes. Researchers argued that the “absolute risk” is still low, but the risk reported to patients remains significant. However, for the majority of women dealing with epilepsy during pregnancy, their seizure risk will remain the same.

However, French said this study leaves a lot of questions unanswered because it doesn’t look at the risk of dying during pregnancy, only during delivery. But the study presents some limitations.

They add that further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying their findings and to identify interventions that might improve pregnancy outcomes for women with epilepsy.