Journal article
Mind the gap: Multiple events and lengthy delays before presentation with a "first seizure"
AL Firkin, DJT Marco, S Saya, MR Newton, TJ O'Brien, SF Berkovic, AM McIntosh
Epilepsia | Published : 2015
DOI: 10.1111/epi.13127
Abstract
Objective Up to half of patients assessed for suspected new-onset epileptic seizures report previous undiagnosed events. This suggests that delay to timely and expert assessment is a major issue. Very little is known about the degree of delay or nature of the undiagnosed events, impacting on our understanding of new-onset epilepsy. In this study we aimed to examine events that occur before presentation, as well as the extent and risk factors for delay to assessment. Method Included in this retrospective study were 220 patients diagnosed at the First Seizure Clinic (Austin Health, Australia) between 2003 and 2006 with an epileptic index seizure. Patients with a prior diagnosis of epileptic se..
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Grants
Awarded by NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence Grant
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank Professor Dennis Velakoulis (The Royal Melbourne Hospital) for assistance with the academic supervision of Ms Anna Firkin. We would also like to thank Ms Megan Cotter and Ms Lisa Johnson for assistance with data collection relating to the First Seizure Clinic at Austin Health. This research was supported in part by the Windermere Foundation Australia and Austin Hospital Medical Research Foundation, Australia. Dr Anne McIntosh was supported in part by the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence Grant 1001216 (The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne).