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Patients with epilepsy may be subject to an increased risk of premature death from the underlying cause,or from the epilepsy itself.The extent and nature of this risk has been insufficiently investigated.Standard mortality ratios(SMRs)of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy were determined in a prospective national population-based study.1091 patients with newly diagnosed or suspected epilepsy were ascertained who were attending one of 275 UK general practices from 1084-1987.Mortality in patients with newly-diagnosed epilepsy was high,mainly due to the underlying cause.The SMR for idiopathic epilepsy was also raised, suggesting that epilepsy per se may carry a small risk of death. |
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