Background: The association between epilepsy and stroke was not completely understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether patients with epilepsy have an increased risk of stroke or post-stroke mortality. Methods: Using Taiwan`s Nation...
Background: The association between epilepsy and stroke was not completely understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether patients with epilepsy have an increased risk of stroke or post-stroke mortality. Methods: Using Taiwan`s National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 3,284 patients with new-diagnozed epilepsy and 13,136 persons without epilepsy between 2000 and 2004. The risk of stroke was compared between 2 cohorts through December 31, 2008. To investigate the association between in-hospital mortality after stroke and history of epilepsy, we conducted a case-control study of 135,220 hospitalized patients with newly diagnosed stroke between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008. The post-stroke in-hospital mortality and complications were compared between stroke patients with and without previous epilepsy. Results: The epilpesy cohort had an increased stroke risk (hazard ratio [HR] 2.18; 95% CI 1.87-2.54). Among patients with stroke, those with a history of epilepsy had a higher risk of post-stroke mortality compared withthose without epilepsy (odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.17-1.36). Epilepsy was also associated with post-stroke pneumonia (odds ratio 1.52; 95% CI 1.44-1.62) and urinary tract infection (odds ratio 1.48; 95% CI 1.39- 1.56). The association between epilepsy and stroke risk remains signifi cant in every age group (20-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, >=70) and both sexes. Conclusions: Epilepsy was associated with risk of stroke and post-stroke pneumonia, urinary tract infection and mortality. This research shows the importance of prevention, early recognition, and treatment of stroke in epileptic population.