Comparison of New‐Onset and Persistent Epilepsy in the Elderly

Abstract

Background

Previous studies on elderly epilepsy included only patients with new‐onset disease, but there are many patients who developed epilepsy earlier and aged.

Aim

We compared the characteristics of new‐onset and persistence epilepsy in the elderly.

Methods

We performed a 10‐year retrospective analysis of elderly patients with epilepsy divided into two groups according to the onset of seizure: new‐onset epilepsy (onset age≥65) and persistent epilepsy (onset age<65).

Results

Nearly half (78/172, 45.3%) of patients in the new‐onset group presented as status epilepticus, and one‐fourth of these (19/78, 24.4%) died during the initial treatment for status epilepticus. Patients in the new‐onset epilepsy group presented more frequently as status epilepticus (59/153 vs. 12/78, p<0.001) and had a past history of status epilepticus (63/153 vs. 20/78, p=0.02). History of stroke (81/153 vs. 30/78, p=0.04), hypertension (83/153 vs. 29/78, p=0.01), and dyslipidemia (53/153 vs. 17/78, p=0.05) were more common in the new‐onset group, but patients in the persistent group used more antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; p=0.036) and total AED drug loads (p=0.028).

Conclusions

Our study shows that new‐onset epilepsy has a higher incidence of status epilepticus and more stroke‐related risk factors but may require fewer AEDs for epilepsy control.

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