Using EEG in Resource-Limited Areas: Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Interpretation Methods in Cerebral Malaria

Abstract

BackgroundOur goal was to compare the strength of association and predictive ability of qualitative and quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) factors with the outcomes of death and neurological disability in pediatric cerebral malaria (CM). MethodsWe enrolled children with a clinical diagnosis of CM admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Blantyre, Malawi) between 2012 and 2017. A routine-length EEG was performed within four hours of admission. EEG data were independently interpreted using qualitative and quantitative methods by trained pediatric neurophysiologists. EEG interpreters were unaware of patient discharge outcome. ResultsEEG tracings from 194 patients were reviewed. Multivariate modeling revealed several qualitative and quantitative EEG variables that were independently associated with outcomes. Quantitative methods modeled on mortality had better goodness of fit than qualitative ones. When modeled on neurological morbidity in survivors, goodness of fit was better for qualitative methods. When the probabilities of an adverse outcome were calculated using multivariate regression coefficients, only the model of quantitative EEG variables regressed on the neurological sequelae outcome showed clear separation between outcome groups. ConclusionsMultiple qualitative and quantitative EEG factors are associated with outcomes in pediatric CM. It may be possible to use quantitative EEG factors to create automated methods of study interpretation that have similar predictive abilities for outcomes as human-based interpreters, a rare resource in many malaria-endemic areas. Our results provide a proof-of-concept starting point for the development of quantitative EEG interpretation and prediction methodologies useful in resource-limited settings.