Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major, but often unrecognized, cause of death in people with epilepsy. It is estimated to account for up to 17% of all epilepsy-related deaths. SUDEP is defined as an unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic sudden death in a person with epilepsy, with or without evidence of a seizure, and without an identifiable cause of death after a thorough investigation. While the exact cause of SUDEP is not known, potential risk factors include the frequency of seizures, duration and type of epilepsy, and antiepileptic drug use. SUDEP is an important public health problem, and its prevention is a major focus of research. In addition to conducting research on its etiology and risk factors, researchers have developed strategies to reduce its incidence, including increasing awareness of SUDEP in people with epilepsy and their families, enhanced medical management of epilepsy, and device-based seizure detection and avoidance.