Current use of individual AEMs and SCD risk
| SCD cases n=926 | Controls n=9832 | OR* (95% CI) | OR† (95% CI) | OR‡ (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium channel blocking AEMs§ | 15 (1.6) | 43 (0.4) | 3.0 (1.7 to 5.4) | 3.0 (1.7 to 5.3) | 2.8 (1.1 to 7.2) |
| Carbamazepine | 10 (1.1) | 26 (0.3) | 4.0 (1.8 to 8.9) | 3.8 (1.7 to 8.5) | 3.2 (1.1 to 9.2) |
| Gabapentin | 3 (0.3) | 6 (0.06) | 5.1 (1.1 to 22.3) | 5.9 (1.2 to 28.5) | 5.7 (1.2 to 27.9) |
| Lamotrigine | 0 | 3 (0.0) | NA | NA | NA |
| Oxcarbazepine | 0 | 1 (0.0) | NA | NA | NA |
| Phenytoin | 3 (0.3) | 10 (0.1) | 2.0 (0.4 to 9.1) | 2.2 (0.5 to 10.2) | 2.0 (0.3 to 12.7) |
| Non-sodium channel blocking AEMs§ | 10 (1.1) | 51 (0.5) | 2.2 (0.8 to 6.0) | 1.7 (0.6 to 5.1) | 1.7 (0.5 to 5.3) |
| Clonazepam | 4 (0.4) | 14 (0.1) | 2.9 (0.9 to 9.4) | 2.1 (0.6 to 7.3) | 2.1 (0.6 to 7.2) |
| Levetiracetam | 0 | 1 (0.0) | NA | NA | NA |
| Phenobarbital | 2 (0.2) | 14 (0.1) | NA | NA | NA |
| Primidone | 0 | 4 (0.0) | NA | NA | NA |
| Valproic acid | 4 (0.4) | 20 (0.2) | 2.2 (0.7 to 6.8) | 2.0 (0.6 to 6.2) | 1.8 (0.4 to 7.3) |
Data are expressed as number (%) unless otherwise indicated.
We conducted only separate analyses for individual AEMs if there were at least 3 current users.
*ORs matched for age, gender, practice, and calendar time.
†ORs matched for age, gender, practice, and calendar time, adjusted for heart failure.‡ORs matched for age, gender, practice, and calendar time, adjusted for heart failure and epilepsy.
§Because some patients used 2 AEMs concomitantly, numbers do not add up.
AEM, antiepileptic medication; NA, not analysed; SCD, sudden cardiac death.