Table 1 Characteristics and outcomes of encephalopathic patients and those with and without non-convulsive seizures
Variable | All patients | Seizures* | No seizures* | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(n = 317) | (n = 46) | (n = 271) | ||
General characteristics | ||||
Age | 60.2 ± 14.6, 62 (18–89) | 59.3 ± 14.6, 62 (18–84) | 60.4 ± 14.7, 62 (18–89) | 0.775 |
Gender (male) | 59.3% | 43.5% | 62.0% | 0.018 |
Type of malignancy | 0.609 | |||
Hematological | 61.8% | 65.3% | 61.3% | |
Solid tumor | 38.2% | 34.7% | 38.7% | |
Metastatic disease | 72.7% | 56.3% | 75.2% | 0.112 |
Active disease (no remission) | 86.8% | 86.9% | 86.7% | 0.965 |
Stem cell transplant (yes) | 31.6% | 26.1% | 18.5% | 0.284 |
Co-morbidity index ≥ 5 | 68.5% | 63.0% | 69.4% | 0.393 |
Chemotherapy within 10 days | 24.3% | 41.3% | 21.4% | 0.0036 |
CNS malignancy involvement** | 26.5% | 39.0% | 24.4% | 0.0358 |
Medical history of seizure disorder | 10.4% | 13.0% | 9.9% | 0.527 |
Admission diagnosis | ||||
Altered mental status | 30.9% | 60.9% | 25.8% | < 0.0001 |
Respiratory failure | 25.9% | 4.3% | 29.5% | |
Severe sepsis/shock | 18.0% | 10.9% | 19.2% | |
Cardiac arrest | 11.7% | 10.9% | 11.8% | |
Stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic) | 2.8% | 6.5% | 2.2% | |
Other | 10.7% | 6.5% | 11.5% | |
Variables during ICU stay | ||||
Days from admission to EEG*** | 5.5 ± 7.5, 3 (1–69) | 3.9 ± 5.3, 2 (1–30) | 5.7 ± 7.8, 3 (1–69) | 0.141 |
SOFA on admission# | 8.5 ± 3.7, 8 (0–19) | 7.7 ± 3.1, 7 (1–15) | 8.6 ± 3.8, 9 (1–19) | 0.170 |
SOFA at time of EEG# | 9.9 ± 4.0, 10 (3–22) | 8.5 ± 3.1, 8 (3–15) | 10.2 ± 4.1, 10 (3–22) | 0.0129 |
GCS at time of EEG (median)^ | 7 (3–12) | 7 (3–12) | 7 (3–12) | 0.720 |
Vasopressors (yes) | 56.5% | 36.9% | 59.8% | 0.0039 |
Acute renal failure (yes) | 52.4% | 30.4% | 56.1% | 0.0013 |
Mechanical ventilation (yes) | 79.5% | 69.6% | 81.2% | 0.071 |
Use of sedatives (yes) | 49.8% | 36.9% | 52.0% | 0.059 |
Cardiac arrest during ICU stay | 13.2% | 10.9% | 13.7% | 0.814 |
Abnormal brain imaging | 47.0% | 60.9% | 44.6% | 0.0416 |
Meningitis/encephalitis | 4.1% | 8.7% | 3.3% | 0.103 |
Medications given in the ICU ^^ | 31.9% | 39.1% | 30.6% | 0.253 |
Abnormal electrolytes | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 1 |
PRES+ | 1.3% | 2.2% | 1.1% | 0.467 |
CNS malignancy involvement | 26.5% | 39.0% | 24.4% | 0.0358 |
CAR T cell therapy++ | 4.7% | 15.2% | 2.9% | 0.0003 |
Outcomes | ||||
Improvement of GCS prior to discharge | 44.2% | 52.2% | 42.8% | 0.237 |
ICU Length of stay | 13.8 ± 13.8 | 12.5 ± 11.5 | 14.1 ± 14.2 | 0.655 |
Hospital Length of stay | 22.3 ± 21.2 | 21.3 ± 18.4 | 22.5 ± 21.7 | 0.857 |
Overall mortality | 60.9% | 45.7% | 63.5% | 0.022 |