Risk of Fractures and Other Injuries in Children Treated with Antiseizure Medications for Epilepsy.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of fractures and non-fracture injuries, including associated risk factors, in children with epilepsy prescribed antiseizure medications (ASM). A controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital outpatient setting, comparing children with epilepsy prescribed ASMs with their non-epileptic siblings. Information was collected by questionnaire included history of fractures, non-fracture injuries and epilepsy, comorbidities and ASM use. 261 participants completed the questionnaire, 133 children with epilepsy (aged 10.7 ± 3.5years, mean ± SD) and 128 siblings (10.1 ± 3.7years). There were 49 non-seizure-related fractures in 34 ASM patients while prescribed ASMs, compared with 21 lifetime fractures in 15 controls, giving a 2.7 (95% CI 1.3-5.3, p = 0.007) times greater fracture prevalence in children treated with ASMs compared to healthy siblings. The rates of non-fracture injuries were similar across groups, except that concussion was more common in children taking ASMs (9.0% vs 1.6%, p = 0.026). Duration of ASM use and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) were independent predictors of fractures (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.03-2.31, p = 0.03; OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.05-5.94, p = 0.04, respectively). Fewer than 20% of participants and/or their families were aware that ASM use was related to bone health. Children with epilepsy treated with ASMs had a higher fracture prevalence than their sibling controls. Duration of ASM treatment and GTCS were associated with fracture risk. Longitudinal prospective studies are required to further explore risk and the direct impact of epilepsy on bone health.