Incidence of seizure and associated risk factors in patients in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) from 2016–2017 Journal Article


Authors: Azary, S.; Caravanos, C.; Reiner, A. S.; Panageas, K. S.; Dhawan, V.; Avila, E. K.
Article Title: Incidence of seizure and associated risk factors in patients in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) from 2016–2017
Abstract: Background: Seizures and status epilepticus are common neurologic complications in the intensive care unit (ICU) but the incidence in a cancer ICU is unknown. It is important to understand seizure risk factors in cancer patients to properly diagnose the seizure type to ensure appropriate therapy. Methods: We identified patients admitted to the medical ICU at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) from January 2016 to December 2017 who had continuous or routine electroencephalography (EEG) and identified clinical and electrographic seizures by chart review. Results: Of the 1059 patients admitted to the ICU between 2016 and 2017, 50 patients had clinical and/or electrographic seizures (incidence of 4.7%, 95% CI: 3.4-6.0). The incidences of clinical and electrographic seizure were 4.1% and 1.1%, respectively. In a multivariable stepwise regression model, history of seizure (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-7.8, P:.03), brain metastasis (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.8, P:.03), vasopressor requirement (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.0-4.9, P:.05), and age < 65 (2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-5.0, P:.02) were associated with increased risk of seizure (either clinical or electrographic). Obtaining continuous EEG instead of routine EEG increased the yield of seizure detection significantly (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3-11.1, P:.01). No chemotherapy in the past 30 days, no antibiotic use, vasopressor requirement, and having a brain tumor increased risk of electrographic seizure. Length of continuous EEG > 24 h significantly increased the chances of both clinical and electrographic seizure detection, (OR: 2.6 [95% CI: 1.2-5.7] and 15.0 [95% CI: 2.7-82.5], respectively). Conclusions: We identified known and cancer-related risk factors which can aid clinicians in diagnosing seizures in cancer ICUs. Long-term video EEG monitoring should be considered, particularly given the treatable and reversible nature of seizures. © The Author(s) 2022.
Keywords: neoplasm; neoplasms; incidence; risk factors; risk factor; intensive care unit; intensive care units; seizure; electroencephalography; seizures; complication; humans; human
Journal Title: Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
Volume: 37
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0885-0666
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2022-10-01
Start Page: 1312
End Page: 1317
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/08850666211066080
PUBMED: 35128987
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10155194
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 October 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Anne S Reiner
    248 Reiner
  2. Katherine S Panageas
    512 Panageas
  3. Edward Kenneth Avila
    37 Avila
  4. Vikram Dhawan
    16 Dhawan
  5. Saeedeh Azary
    1 Azary