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The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of epilepsy in Asia ranges from 2.5 to 5.1. However, there are no such published data in Malaysia to date. Understanding the mortality rate and related factors will allow us to better assess and monitor the health status of PWE, thereby, preventing premature deaths among PWE. Hence, this study aimed to determine the mortality rate of adults with epilepsy (PWE) at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), a tertiary hospital in Malaysia.A total of 2218 PWE were recruited retrospectively into this study. Deceased cases from 2009-2018 were identified from the National Registry Department of Malaysia. Age-, gender-, and ethnic-specific SMR were calculated.There was a total of 163 deaths, of which 111 (68.1%) were male. The overall case-fatality rate (CFR) was 7.3%. Male PWE had higher CFR (9.2%) compared to females (5.1%, p0.001). The annual death rate of PWE was 867 per 100, 000 persons. The overall all-cause SMR was 1.6 (CI 95% 1.3-1.8). The SMR for younger age groups (15-19 and 20-29 years) were higher (5.4-5.5) compared to other age groups (0.4-2.5). Overall SMR for male PWE (1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.1) was higher than females (1.2, 95% CI 0.9-1.6). However, the SMR for female PWE in the younger age groups (15-19, 20-29 and 30-39 years) was higher. SMR among the Indian PWE was the highest (1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0) compared to the Chinese (1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9) and the Malays (1.4, 95% 1.0-1.9). The CFR was higher in those with focal epilepsy (8.5% vs. 2.5-3.7% in genetic and other generalized epilepsies, p=0.003), epilepsy with structural cause (9.5% vs. 5.9% in others, p=0.005) and uncontrolled seizures (7.9% vs. 5.2% in seizure-free group, p0.001).The mortality rate of PWE in Malaysia is higher than that of the general population but lower compared to other Asian countries. Specifically, the rates are higher in the younger age group, male gender, and Indian ethnicity. Those with focal epilepsy, structural causes and uncontrolled seizures have higher mortality rates.

Background Telehealth use is limited in developing countries. Therefore, a modified approach with early physical consultation was designed and applied in our hospital. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of this early physical consultation in reducing the clinical and psychological impacts of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which enabled insight into its global feasibility. Method Participants were contacted and offered early physical consultation with a neurologist. Patients who participated in the Phase 1 study on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with epilepsy and treated in our hospital were recruited. Clinical and psychological outcomes of COVID-19 were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Result A total of 312 patients completed this study with a mean age of 39.13 ± 16.13 years, majority female (51.0%), and experienced seizures at least once yearly (64.7%). There was 12.6% who experienced seizure worsening related to the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving early clinical intervention, 30.8% achieved better seizure control with another 51.1% had no seizure occurrence. The mean HADS anxiety score improved immediately post-intervention (5.27 ± 4.32 vs. 4.79 ± 4.26, p

Background This study aimed to determine the relationship among the clinical, logistic, and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on people with epilepsy (PWE), and the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life. Method This is a cross-sectional anonymized web-based study on PWE, using an online questionnaire to assess the clinical, logistic, and psychological impacts of COVID-19, including Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Result 461 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 39.21 ± 15.88 years, majority female (50.1%), with focal epilepsy (54.0%), and experienced seizures at least once yearly (62.5%). There were 13.0% experienced seizure worsening during COVID-19 period, which were associated with baseline seizures frequency ≥ 1 per month (32.0% vs. 6.2%, p 1 per month (OR, 14.10) followed by anxiety (OR, 3.90), inadequate sleep (OR, 0.37), and treated in UMMC (OR, 0.31) as the predictors for seizure worsening during COVID-19 period. Poorer total QOLIE-31 score was noted in those with seizure worsening (48.01 ± 13.040 vs. 62.15 ± 15.222, p

This is a follow-up study on mortality in adult patients in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the cause of death and the factors associated with epilepsy-related death in PWE in Malaysia.Deceased PWE from 2005 to 2020 were identified from the National Registry Department of Malaysia. The details of the cause of death and predictors for epilepsy-related deaths was ascertained from medical records and phone interviews.There were a total of 227 deaths, 144 (63.4%) were male, two (0.9%) underwent autopsy and 46.3% passed away in the community. The majority of deaths (55.5%) were due to causes unrelated to epilepsy. Forty-five (19.8%) death were related to epilepsy, of which, 22 (9.7%) were due to death directly related to epilepsy including probable SUDEP (5.3%) and status epilepticus (4.4%). The cause of death was unknown in 56 (24.7%) cases. Binary logistic regression analysis identified 3 predictors for epilepsy-related deaths, i.e., structural causes (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.100-8.691, p = 0.032), younger age of death (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.039-5.333, p = 0.040) and history of brain surgery (OR 8.09, 95% CI 2.014-32.510, p = 0.003). Twelve (5.3%) had probable SUDEP. The incidence rate of probable SUDEP was 0.42 per 1000 person-years. The majority of them had intellectual disability (9/12), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (9/12), and 2 or more ASMs (9/12).Epilepsy-related deaths accounted for 20% of the deaths in PWE, associated with structural cause, younger age of death, and previous brain surgery. Probable SUDEP is not uncommon in Malaysia and could be under-diagnosed.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage were reported in Europe, the United States of America and monoethnic Asian countries such as Korea and Taiwan. However, limited literature is available on the variability of CAM usage patterns among people with epilepsy (PWE) in a multi-racial country in particular Malaysia. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence, types, predictors and impact of CAM use among adult PWE and their adherence to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) treatment.140 patients were recruited, with a median age of 37.5 (IQR,28.0-51.5) years, majority female, had secondary or lower education level, earn

Introduction. The reported mortality rate of epilepsy in Asia ranged from 2.5-5.1, but there was no published data in Malaysia. This study aimed to find out the mortality rate of patient with epilepsy in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Methods. There were 2389 patients with epilepsy recruited retrospectively from 2009-2018 in this study. Fatal cases were identified from National Registry Department Malaysia. Age- specific and gender-specific Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) were calculated. Results. There were 175 deaths (7.33%). The all-cause overall SMR is 1.6 (CI 95% 1.4-1.8). The SMR in the younger age groups (15- 19, 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49) were higher than the older age groups. Overall SMR for male patients (1.8, CI 95% 1.5-2.2) was higher than female (1.3, CI 95% 1.0-1.6). However, in specific age groups (15-19, 20-29 and 30-39), the SMR in female was higher. Conclusion. The mortality rate of epilepsy in Malaysia is higher than the general population in Malaysia but lower than other Asian countries. Specifically, the rate is higher among the males and younger age group.