The epidemiology of clinical neonatal seizures in Newfoundland: A population-based study☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
METHODS
Educational sessions by the neonatal-epilepsy nurse coordinator about neonatal seizures were presented in 1989 to nursing staff and pediatricians at the 6 obstetric-neonatal units and at the single tertiary intensive neonatal care unit across the province of Newfoundland. The sessions covered descriptions of the different potential components of abnormal paroxysmal phenomena in neonates, their possible background, and the practice and diagnostic significance of eliciting stimulation and
RESULTS
Ninety infants met the entry criteria. There were 34,615 live births recorded by the Unit for Health Research and Statistics in the Department of Health of Newfoundland over the 5 years; 3862 (11%) were of 37 weeks’ gestation or less. The calculated incidence rate is therefore 2.6 per 1000 live births (1.9 for ≥38 weeks’ and 8.6 for <38 weeks’ gestation). The Department of Health had data by birth weight and prematurity (<37 weeks’ gestation) only after 1991.13 There were 26,841 live births for
DISCUSSION
Guided by principles15, 16, 17, 18 of natural history, sample selection, and incidence rate, we defined each case of clinical neonatal seizures as a neonate who had probable true epileptic seizures. If only classic cases with proven electroclinical correlate of seizures were included, most neonates considered to have true seizures would not be included. On the other hand, including all possible cases of neonatal seizures would overestimate the true rate of the condition. Our prospective
Acknowledgements
We thank Peter Camfield, MD, John C. Sinclair, MD, and David Streiner, PhD, for their critical review, and Mrs Kay Johnson for carefully preparing the manuscript.
References (19)
Neonatal seizures: current concepts and revised classification
Pediatrics
(1989)- et al.
Clinical spectrum and outcome of neonatal convulsions
Aust Paediatr J
(1988) - et al.
Electrographic seizures in preterm and full-term neonates: clinical correlates, associated brain lesions, and risk for neurologic sequelae
Pediatrics
(1993) - et al.
Low risk of seizure recurrence after early withdrawal of antiepileptic treatment in the neonatal period
Arch Dis Child
(1995) Neonatal convulsions—a 10 year review
Arch Dis Child
(1983)- et al.
Outcome in neonates with convulsions treated in an intensive care unit
Ann Neurol
(1983) - et al.
A population-based study of neonatal seizures in Fayette County, Kentucky
Neurology
(1995) - et al.
Incidence of clinical neonatal seizures [abstract]
Epilepsia
(1996) - et al.
Characterization and classification of neonatal seizures
Neurology
(1987)
Cited by (260)
Neonatal hypoxia impairs serotonin release and cognitive functions in adult mice
2024, Neurobiology of DiseaseNeurological outcomes and mortality after neonatal seizures with electroencephalographical verification. A systematic review
2024, European Journal of Paediatric NeurologyEpilepsy Frequency and Risk Factors Three Years After Neonatal Seizures
2023, Pediatric NeurologyAll Care is Brain Care: Neuro-Focused Quality Improvement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2023, Clinics in PerinatologyNeonatal Resuscitation
2023, Principles of NeonatologyNeonatal Seizures
2023, Avery's Diseases of the Newborn
- ☆
Supported by a grant from the Janeway Child Health Centre Foundation, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
- ☆☆
Reprint requests: Gabriel M. Ronen, MD, MSc, McMaster University, 1200 Main St W, HSC 3N11H, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.
- ★
0022-3476/99/$8.00 + 09/21/95252