Table 1 Characteristics of the total study cohort and both groups (patients with or without known diabetes)  

Patients

N = 408

N = 133

N = 275

Demographics

Age

73 (62–81)

75 (70–81)

71 (58–81)

Sex: m (male) f (female)

m 188 (46%), f 220 (54%)

m 51 (38%), f 82 (62%)

m 137 (50%), f 138 (50%)

Comorbidities

Charlson Comorbidity Index

3 (1–4)

4 (3–6)

2 (1–3)

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

55 (14%)

55 (42%)

0

Active abuse of alcohol*

41 (10%)

10 (8%)

31 (11%)

Status epilepticus

STESS ≥ 3

272 (67%)

106 (80%)

166 (60%)

Worst seizure type: GCSE

171 (42%)

47 (35%)

124 (45%)

Worst seizure type: NCSE with coma*

12 (3%)

3 (2%)

9 (3%)

Consciousness: Stuporous or comatose

306 (75%)

99 (74%)

207 (75%)

History of seizures

202 (50%)

48 (36%)

154 (55%)

Etiology of SE

Potentially fatal etiology

126 (31%)

47 (35%)

79 (29%)

Treatment with VPA

VPA single infusion*

42 (10%)

10 (8%)

32 (12%)

VPA repeated or continuous infusion

366 (90%)

123 (93%)

243 (88%)

Stop treatment with VPA

147 (36%)

52 (39%)

95 (35%)

Reason: adverse events

53 (13%)

22 (17%)

31 (11%)

Reason: interaction of medication*

24 (6%)

7 (5%)

17 (6%)

Other reasons, no adverse events

70 (17%)

23 (17%)

47 (17%)

Adverse events

Disturbance of consciousness*

27 (7%)

11 (8%)

16 (6%)

Thrombocytopenia*

8 (2%)

6 (5%)

2 (1%)

Parkinsonism*

1 (0.2%)

1 (1%)

0

Elevation of liver enzymes*

7 (2%)

2 (2%)

5 (2%)

Bleeding*

2 (0.5%)

0

2 (1%)

Others*

8 (2%)

2 (2%)

6 (2%)

In-hospital complications

Need for mechanical ventilation

180 (44%)

52 (39%)

128 (47%)

Episodes of hypoglycemia*

11 (3%)

8 (6%)

3 (1%)

Bleeding with intervention*

20 (5%)

7 (5%)

13 (5%)

Pancreatic damage*

3 (1%)

1 (1%)

2 (1%)

Outcome

In-hospital mortality

65 (16%)

26 (20%)

39 (14%)

In-hospital mortality after recurrent SE*

6/74 (8%)

0/27

6/47 (13%)

mRS at discharge

4 (3–5)

5 (4–5)

4 (3–5)