Quantification of Risks of Seizure in Autism (S32.003)

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine if children with autism are to be diagnosed with epilepsy, and with specific phenotypes, including status epilepticus, partial seizures, infantile spasms and petit mal (absence) seizures. It will also compare length of stay when applicable. Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to have increased rates of epilepsy. Reported rates across all subtypes vary widely. Many prior studies aimed to quantify these rates are small. Methods: A retrospective matched case cohort study was performed. We identified pediatric patients 0-18 years of age in the Military Health System database between 2000-2013. Children with ASD were matched 1:5 to children without ASD by birthdate, gender, and enrollment time. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic codes were used to identify patients. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of varied seizure types. Results: 48,762 ASD patients were identified and matched to 243,810 controls. For autistic children, the odds ratio (OR) of having some kind of seizure or seizure disorder was 6.03 (95[percnt] CI; 5.84-6.22). This represented 19[percnt] of the patients with autism. In a subgroup analysis of patients with status epilepticus the OR was 8.00(CI 7.11-8.99). The OR of patients of absence seizures was 9.54(CI 8.76-10.38). The OR of patients with partial epilepsy 8.35 (CI 8.35-9.49). The OR of patients with infantile spasms was 7.30 (CI 5.74-9.28). Although the OR of febrile seizures was significant, it was far less so (OR 2.19 (CI 2.05-2.33). Conclusions: This study helps to quantify the percentage of autistic patients with seizures, and different seizure types. Rates of epilepsy in children with autism are vastly increased in a wide variety of seizure types, known to have different etiologies, genetic and otherwise. Funding provided by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Autism Research Program W81XWH-12-2-0066

Disclosure: Dr. Jaskiewicz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Susi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hisle-Gorman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dennison has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gorman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nylund has nothing to disclose. Dr. Erdie-Lalena has nothing to disclose.