Descriptive epidemiology and health resource utilization for status epilepticus in the emergency department in the United States of America.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology and health resource utilization for convulsive status epilepticus (SE) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Primary SE and secondary SE (SE in a case who visited the ED for other primary reason) were compared with non-SE seizures. Secondary SE is expected to have worse outcomes and higher costs because of another primary cause for ED visit.

Results: In the period 2010-2014, there were 149,750 ED visits with primary SE; 83,459 ED with secondary SE; and 5,359,103 ED visits with non-SE seizures. On multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of hospital admission were 7 times higher for primary SE than for non-SE seizures, and 5 times higher for secondary SE than for non-SE seizures; the odds of transfer to another hospital were 9 times higher for primary SE than for non-SE seizures, and 3 times higher for secondary SE than for non-SE seizures; the odds of death were 2.5 times higher for primary SE than for non-SE seizures, and 12 times higher for secondary SE than for non-SE seizures; and the charges (in January 2020 USA dollars) were $9000 higher in primary SE than in non-SE seizures, and $35,000 higher in secondary SE than in non-SE seizures.

Conclusion: Among all reasons for ED visits, SE, and in particular, secondary SE, are among the most resource-consuming conditions, being much more expensive than non-SE seizures in the ED.