Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34864250›Full record

ArticleSeizure2022

Epilepsy mortality in Wales during COVID-19.

Helen Daniels, Arron S Lacey, David Mikadze, Ashley Akbari, Beata Fonferko-Shadrach, Joe Hollinghurst, Ronan A Lyons, Mark I Rees, Inder Ms Sawhney, Robert H Powell and 2 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Seizure, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
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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

12 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Helen DanielsSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: h.daniels@swansea.ac.uk.
Arron S LaceySwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.s.lacey@swansea.ac.uk.
David MikadzeSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: 970837@swansea.ac.uk.
Ashley AkbariSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.akbari@swansea.ac.uk.
Beata Fonferko-ShadrachSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: b.fonferko-shadrach@swansea.ac.uk.
Joe HollinghurstSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.hollinghurst@swansea.ac.uk.
Ronan A LyonsSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: r.a.lyons@swansea.ac.uk.
Mark I ReesSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: mark.rees@sydney.edu.au.
Inder Ms SawhneySwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom; Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Electronic address: i.m.s.sawhney@swansea.ac.uk.
Robert H PowellSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom; Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Robert.powell@wales.nhs.uk.
Michael P KerrInstitute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. Electronic address: kerrmp@cardiff.ac.uk.
W Owen PickrellSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom; Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Electronic address: w.o.pickrell@swansea.ac.uk.
Swansea University · GBMorriston Hospital · GBCardiff University · GBUniversity of Sydney · AU

Funding

HCRW_ SCF-18-1504Medical Research Council MC_PC_20058Medical Research Council MR/V028367/1Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has increased mortality worldwide and those with chronic conditions may have been disproportionally affected. However, it is unknown whether the pandemic has changed mortality rates for people with epilepsy. We aimed to compare mortality rates in people with epilepsy in Wales during the pandemic with pre-pandemic rates.

methodsWe performed a retrospective study using individual-level linked population-scale anonymised electronic health records. We identified deaths in people with epilepsy (DPWE), i.e. those with a diagnosis of epilepsy, and deaths associated with epilepsy (DAE), where epilepsy was recorded as a cause of death on death certificates. We compared death rates in 2020 with average rates in 2015-2019 using Poisson models to calculate death rate ratios.

resultsThere were 188 DAE and 628 DPWE in Wales in 2020 (death rates: 7.7/100,000/year and 25.7/100,000/year). The average rates for DAE and DPWE from 2015 to 2019 were 5.8/100,000/year and 23.8/100,000/year, respectively. Death rate ratios (2020 compared to 2015-2019) for DAE were 1.34 (95%CI 1.14-1.57, p<0.001) and for DPWE were 1.08 (0.99-1.17, p = 0.09). The death rate ratios for non-COVID deaths (deaths without COVID mentioned on death certificates) for DAE were 1.17 (0.99-1.39, p = 0.06) and for DPWE were 0.96 (0.87-1.05, p = 0.37).

conclusionsThe significant increase in DAE in Wales during 2020 could be explained by the direct effect of COVID-19 infection. Non-COVID-19 deaths have not increased significantly but further work is needed to assess the longer-term impact.

Indexed as

COVID-19EpilepsyCause of DeathHumansPandemicsRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2WalesCOVID-19Data linkageElectronic health recordsPandemic

Identifiers

PMID34864250
PMCPMC8626872
OpenAlexW3215559952

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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 OpenQuestion graph.