Risk of early death varies on different factors in epilepsy: Study

According to a recent study, those who have epilepsy have a higher risk of dying young. In addition, people with epilepsy living in rural areas had a 247 per cent increased risk of death compared to the general population while those living in urban areas had a 203% increased risk. Study participants taking just one anti-seizure medication had a 156 per cent increased risk of death compared to the general population while people taking four or more anti-seizure medications had a nearly five times greater risk. People with epilepsy who had no other diseases or health concerns had a 161% increased risk of death compared to the general population. Among study participants who died, 19 per cent died of cerebrovascular disease, which was a 4.5 times greater risk of death than the general population, 16 per cent died of cancers outside of the central nervous system, a 137 per cent greater risk and 7 per cent died of cancers of the central nervous system, a 46 times greater risk.