How common is SUDEP?

  • Each year, more than 1 in 1,000 adults and 1 in 4,500 children with epilepsy die from SUDEP. 
  • People with poorly controlled epilepsy are at greatest risk of dying from SUDEP.
  • SUDEP takes more lives annually in the United States than sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • People with only absence or myoclonic seizures are not known to have increased risk for sudden death.

What causes SUDEP?

No one knows what causes SUDEP, but many areas are being looked at. SUDEP occurs most often at night or during sleep when the death is not witnessed, leaving many questions unanswered. There may be evidence that a person had a seizure before dying, but this isn’t always the case.

Current research into the possible causes of SUDEP focuses on problems with breathing, heart rhythm and brain function that occur with a seizure.

  • Breathing: A seizure typically may cause a person to briefly stop breathing (apnea). If these breathing pauses last too long, they can reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the heart and the brain. A lack of oxygen can be life threatening if not treated immediately.  Also, a person’s airway may sometimes get blocked blocked during a convulsive seizure, leading to suffocation (inability to breathe).
  • Heart Rhythm:  Rarely, a seizure may cause a dangerous heart rhythm or cardiac arrest.
  • Brain Function:  Seizures may suppress or interfere with the function of vital areas in the brainstem. These areas are responsible for breathing and heart rate as well as other important body functions. As a result, changes in brain function could cause dangerous breathing and heart rate changes.
  • Others: SUDEP may result from more than one cause, or from a combination of breathing difficulty, abnormal heart rhythm and changes in brain function. Or, it may result from factors researchers have yet to discover.

Who is at risk for SUDEP?

The greatest risk factor for SUDEP is frequent seizures, especially generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.

Other risk factors being looked at include:

  • Not taking medications regularly or as prescribed
  • Stopping or changing medications suddenly
  • Young adult age (20-40 years old)
  • Intellectual disability (IQ<70)

Some studies have shown that people taking a greater number of seizure medications may have a higher risk for SUDEP.

  • Yet, people may be taking multiple medications because they have a severe form of epilepsy. The epilepsy may be the problem rather than the number of medicines.
  • Studies that have looked at seizure frequency have not found an increased risk of SUDEP due only to taking many seizure medications.

Is my child at risk for SUDEP?

The answer depends on how severe the epilepsy is. The risks in children are generally lower children than in adults.

How can I reduce my risk?

The best way to prevent SUDEP is to have as few seizures as possible.

  • Get the best seizure control possible. This may involve actions such as:
    • Taking medication regularly and at the right dose.
    • Visiting your health care team regularly, especially if seizures are not controlled. 
  • If medicines do not work, consider other treatment options such as epilepsy surgery, devices or dietary therapy.
  • Take good care of yourself or your loved one. Eat well, get enough rest and regular exercise, avoid drinking too much alcohol or using recreational drugs, and minimize stress when possible.       
  • Be aware of and avoid any potential seizure triggers whenever possible. Keep a record of things that occurred before a seizure (such as illness, tiredness, stress, missing medications, and where and when the seizure occurred).
  • Talk to your doctor about having your heart checked (cardiac evaluation) to rule out any heart problems. This is particularly important for people with uncontrolled epilepsy who don’t have a cause for their epilepsy found on an MRI or other type of imaging study.
  • Be seizure safe.  Make sure family and co-workers know what to do for seizure first-aid, take extra precautions around water, including swimming and bathing.

Is it SUDEP if there was no evidence of a seizure?

Often there are signs that a person had a seizure before dying, but this isn’t always the case. While a seizure is not a requirement for SUDEP to be diagnosed, recent studies suggest most SUDEP are likely seizure-related.

Is SUDEP genetic?

There are some studies that suggest genetic factors may play a role, but no definite information is available at this time.  Several research efforts are looking into genetics and SUDEP. 

Should I talk to my doctor about SUDEP?

Yes!  If your doctor has not spoken to you about the health risks associated with epilepsy, you should ask him or her about SUDEP.

Questions to ask may include:

  • What risks do I or my family member have for SUDEP?
  • What can we do to lessen the risk of SUDEP? 

Can anti-suffocation pillows prevent SUDEP?

There is no data to support the use of these pillows to prevent SUDEP. They are made to help people who are at risk for suffocation. Talk to your health care provider about any possible benefits of these for you or your loved one.

Do audio and video monitoring devices or sleeping with someone else in the room help prevent SUDEP?

Having someone available at night who is able to provide help during and after a seizure may be one way to limit SUDEP. For example, a person could help provide first aid, keep the person on their side if they had a generalized seizure, and reposition them after the seizure so their breathing isn’t blocked.

However this is often not practical or desired, and more scientific evidence is needed to prove that it is effective in preventing SUDEP. 

Several devices are being developed to detect seizures and alert caregivers when a seizure occurs. However, the devices may not alert you that your loved one has stopped breathing. Whether these devices can prevent SUDEP remains unknown.