Retention rate of first antiepileptic drug in poststroke epilepsy: A nationwide study

• Purpose: To describe the retention rates of first antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with poststroke epilepsy on a nationwide scale. Methods: The Swedish Stroke Register, which has 94% coverage and high-resolution data on stroke, comorbidities, and disability, was cross-referenced to the National Patient Register, Drug Register, and Cause-of-Death Register. Patients with onset of AED-treated epilepsy after stroke in 2005–2010 were included. An algorithm based on prescription renewal intervals was used to analyze treatment data until the end of 2014. Results: A total of 4991 patients were included. First AEDs analyzed were carbamazepine (n = 2373), valproic acid (n = 943), levetiracetam (n = 555), lamotrigine (n = 519), phenytoin (n = 176), and oxcarbazepine (n = 89). The five-year retention rate was highest for lamotrigine (75%, 95%CI:70.4–79.4), followed by levetiracetam (69%, 95%CI:62.9–74.3), oxcarbazepine (68%, 95%CI:55.2–79.8), valproic acid (62%, 95%CI:57.8–66.4), carbamazepine (60%, 95%CI:57.6–62.4), and phenytoin (55%, 95%CI:45.2–64.0). There were minor differences in baseline characteristics with low levels of disability being slightly more common in patients treated with lamotrigine and levetiracetam. Atrial fibrillation and hypertension were more common in patients treated with levetiracetam, and atrial fibrillation was less common in patients treated with carbamazepine. In a Cox model adjusted for baseline characteristics, the risk of discontinuation was lower for lamotrigine (HR 0.53, 95%CI:0.43-0.67) and levetiracetam (HR 0.75, 95%CI:0.60-0.94) when compared to carbamazepine. Conclusions: Lamotrigine and levetiracetam have higher retention rates than carbamazepine in poststroke epilepsy. This is in agreement with existing small RCTs in this patient group. © 2018 British Epilepsy Association

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Carbamazepine

Cohort study

Lamotrigine

Levetiracetam

Treatment

Treatment

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)