New Research on Epilepsy Reveals Impact of Seizure Control on Comorbidities

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Emory University have conducted a study on the relationship between seizure control and the development of comorbidities in individuals with epilepsy. The study, published in the journal Seizure, analyzed data from the HealthVerity Marketplace Inovalon healthcare claims database and found that adults with uncontrolled epilepsy had a higher rate of new-onset comorbidities, including cardiac/metabolic, neuropsychiatric, and neurologic disorders.

The study, which evaluated the rate of new occurrence of select comorbidities in adults after events of uncontrolled epilepsy versus controlled epilepsy, found that most patients had an uncontrolled epilepsy event within the first year after first-filled ASM initiation and after third-filled ASM initiation. The rate of most neuropsychiatric and neurologic comorbidities was higher among patients with uncontrolled epilepsy during first-filled and third-filled ASM. However, the rate of most cardiac/metabolic comorbidities was higher among patients with uncontrolled epilepsy after third-filled ASM initiation, but these comorbidities were more common in controlled epilepsy during first-filled ASM.

The results of this study suggest that seizure control may influence the non-seizure impacts of epilepsy, and it has important implications for the management and treatment of epilepsy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated the rate of new occurrence of select comorbidities in adults after events of uncontrolled epilepsy versus controlled epilepsy.
  • The HealthVerity Marketplace Inovalon healthcare claims database was used to analyze the data.
  • The study included 78,714 patients with epilepsy, 64,031 of whom received a third ASM.
  • Most patients had an uncontrolled epilepsy event within the first year after first-filled ASM initiation and after third-filled ASM initiation.
  • The rate of most neuropsychiatric and neurologic comorbidities was higher among patients with uncontrolled epilepsy during first-filled and third-filled ASM.
  • The rate of most cardiac/metabolic comorbidities was higher among patients with uncontrolled epilepsy after third-filled ASM initiation, but these comorbidities were more common in controlled epilepsy during first-filled ASM.
  • The results indicate that seizure control may influence the non-seizure impacts of epilepsy.

Statistics:

  • 78,714 patients with epilepsy were included in the study.
  • 64,031 patients received a third ASM.
  • 57% of patients had an uncontrolled epilepsy event within the first year after first-filled ASM initiation.
  • 56% of patients had an uncontrolled epilepsy event within the first year after third-filled ASM initiation.
  • 134 patients (0.17%) had a new-onset cardiac/midlic comorbidity after first-filled ASM.
  • 211 patients (0.26%) had a new-onset cardiac/midlic comorbidity after third-filled ASM.

Sources:

  • New onset of comorbidities in people with epilepsy in a national healthcare claims database. Seizure, 2025;132:178-185.
  • NewsRx. Findings from Emory University in Epilepsy Reported (New onset of comorbidities in people with epilepsy in a national healthcare claims database). Cardiovascular Week. October 13, 2025; p 224.