This abstract is recognized by Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy for its contribution to improving the understanding of epilepsy-related mortality
Rationale: To determine the effect of sleep on heart rate following a recorded seizure. Methods: We performed a prospective acquisition of heart rate data in hospitalized EMU (Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) patients. Heart rate trends for multiple seizures (n=101) in patients (n=42) with EEG-confirmed events were analyzed. The sleep state of the patient was scored for the five minutes preceding each seizure and correlated with the minimum heart rate in the postictal period. Results: The depth of sleep in five minutes prior to a seizure correlated (CC -0.229, p value .0221) with a lower minimum heart rate in the postictal state (postictal nadir for heart rate or PINHR). This result was more significant and strengthened (CC -0.272, 95thCI -0.392 to -0.152, p value < .001) when adjusted for covariates of age, generalized tonic-clonic seizures and baseline heart rate. Conclusions: Sleep depth is an independent predictor of the change in heart rate following a seizure. Diminished heart rate following a seizure in the setting of sleep may play a role in the Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), an event that occurs frequently at night when patients are asleep. Funding: Please list any funding that was received in support of this abstract.: Dr. Schomer received partial salary support and technical support though the NeuroNEXT.
