Assessing Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), Mortality, and Suicide in Pediatric Epilepsy from the lens of Healthcare Disparities: Data From a Scoping Review

AI Summary

Evidence base is limited: few studies address SUDEP and suicide in paediatric epilepsy, with most mortality research lacking SDOH focus.
Gender was the most frequently examined social determinant; socioeconomic status, geography, race or ethnicity, and education were also reported.
Standardised collection of SDOH data is needed to improve study comparability and to guide equity-focused interventions reducing epilepsy-related mortality.

AI Summary

RationaleA recent scoping review of disparities in pediatric epilepsy revealed that mortality-related outcomes, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and suicide, are rarely studied.

We addressed this gap by systematically analyzing literature on social determinants of health (SDOH) and epilepsy-related mortality/SUDEP and suicide.MethodsThe Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium Health Equity Special Interest Group updated a recent scoping review, incorporating peer-reviewed studies that assessed SUDEP, suicide, or mortality in populations affected by SDOH.

Gender was the most common SDOH; others included socioeconomic status, geography, race/ethnicity, and education.ConclusionLiterature addressing disparities in pediatric epilepsy-related mortality is limited.

Basic summary

J Child Neurol. 2026 Jul 7:8830738261462227. doi: 10.1177/08830738261462227. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

RationaleA recent scoping review of disparities in pediatric epilepsy revealed that mortality-related outcomes, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and suicide, are rarely studied. We addressed this gap by systematically analyzing literature on social determinants of health (SDOH) and epilepsy-related mortality/SUDEP and suicide.MethodsThe Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium Health Equity Special Interest Group updated a recent scoping review, incorporating peer-reviewed studies that assessed SUDEP, suicide, or mortality in populations affected by SDOH. Data were categorized by SDOH factors and corresponding disparities to identify patterns across studies.ResultsEighteen studies were reviewed: mortality without referencing SUDEP (n = 8), SUDEP (n = 7), and suicide (n = 3). Gender was the most common SDOH; others included socioeconomic status, geography, race/ethnicity, and education.ConclusionLiterature addressing disparities in pediatric epilepsy-related mortality is limited. Standardized SDOH data collection may improve comparability and inform equity-focused interventions.

PMID:42412047 | DOI:10.1177/08830738261462227

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