Risk of epilepsy following head injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Risk of post traumatic epilepsy: a population based retrospective study
IRAS ID
223143
Contact name
Rajiv Mohanraj
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Each year, 1 million people attend emergency departments in the UK with a history of head injury, many of whom have traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a major cause of epilepsy worldwide. Previous studies have identified risk factors associated with development of epilepsy following TBI. However, data from these studies may not be applicable to current UK population due to changing demographics. TBI is now more common in older patients suffering falls, and old age (>65 years) is now the commonest time of life to develop epilepsy. The neurosurgical department at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust receives referrals for all patients with TBI from the Greater Manchester region. The clinical and imaging details of these patients are recorded in the neurosurgical referral database. For patients who are residents of Salford, the primary care records (Salford Integrated Record, SIR) are accessible from the SRFT Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, which contains details of current diagnoses as well as prescriptions.
We propose to conduct a population based study of traumatic brain injury and incidence of epilepsy in Salford, by retrospectively collecting data by review of the neurosurgical database, and ascertaining diagnosis of epilepsy by review of primary care records using EPR. We further intend to analyse effect of risk factors on the development of epilepsy. The study will include all patients referred to the neurosurgical on-call service with a history of traumatic brain injury between June 2010 and June 2015. Presence of epilepsy will be ascertained from diagnoses documented on SIR, or assumed from long term prescription of anti-epileptic medications in primary care, with no other indication present. Statistical analysis using Cox’s proportional hazards model will be performed to identify risk factors for development of post traumatic epilepsy. Results will be presented at academic meetings, and published in a peer reviewed journal.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0139
Date of REC Opinion
10 May 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion