Prognostic Value of the Status Epilepticus Severity Score in Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. The Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS) has been proposed as a prognostic tool to predict outcomes in SE patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of STESS in predicting clinical outcomes and mortality rates among SE patients.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data collected between January 2020 and February 2024 at XXX Hospital. The study included 29 patients diagnosed with SE, who were categorized based on etiological factors and treatment modalities. STESS was calculated for each patient, and its correlation with clinical outcomes and mortality rates was analyzed using statistical methods.

Results: The mean age of the study group was 37.55±18.81 years, mortality was 13.7% (n=4), and acute symptomatic etiology played a 31% role in the etiology. The most common etiology was CNS infections and the most common comorbidity was DM. 13.8% of the patients died during follow-up. There was no significant difference between the survivors and the deceased patients in terms of mean age, duration of hospitalization and duration of status (p>0.005). The mean STESS score of the patients was 1.48±1.05. Age was significantly higher in patients with STESS scores 3-6 (p=0.004). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with higher STESS scores (p=0.005). The sensitivity of STESS in predicting mortality was 95.7%, specificity was 50% and PPV 75%, NPV 12%.

Conclusions: The study demonstrates the prognostic value of STESS in predicting clinical outcomes in SE patients. Utilizing STESS in clinical practice can help identify high-risk patients and guide therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger, multi-center studies.