ABSTRACT

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency with high mortality. As there are no data on the cost of treatment of SE in this country, the aim of this study was to investigate and analyze these costs.

Patients who were hospitalized in the neurology intensive care unit between January and August 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic data, SE type, etiological factors, antiepileptic drugs used, duration of hospitalization, total cost of hospitalization, and the cost of medication(s) were recorded.

The records of 15 patients (male/female: 4/11) with a mean age of 46.73 years were examined. Seven patients had no previous history of epilepsy and their first seizure was SE-like. The seizures were classified as primary generalized convulsive (n=5), focal onset generalized convulsive (n=6), focal motor (n=1), and non-convulsive (n=3) SE. Medication mismatch (n=4), systemic infection (n=4), previous stroke (n=2), acute stroke (n=3), metabolic causes (n=1), and iatrogenic causes (n=1) were found in the seizure etiology. Two patients died during followup. The mean length of time of hospitalization in the neurology service and intensive care unit was 5.7 and 13.2 days, respectively. The mean total cost of the treatment per patient was TL 22,202.86 and the mean drug cost was TL 4,630.73.

The presence of an acute central nervous system etiology and advanced age of the patient are 2 important factors that significantly increased the cost. More comprehensive data are needed to investigate the risk factors that contribute to the cost of larger patient numbers in our country.

Keywords: Epilepsy, costs, status epilepticus