Role of EMSE and STESS scores in the outcome evaluation of status epilepticus

Abstract Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe neurological condition with significant morbidity and mortality. A reliable tool for prognosis is needed to take decision regarding treatment strategies. We compared 2 available prognostic scores of outcome: the Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS) and the Epidemiology-based Mortality score in SE (EMSE). We included 46 patients with SE evaluated out the last 5 years in our hospital. We excluded patients with postanoxic encephalopathy or incomplete data. Among the 46 patients with SE, in-hospital mortality was 28%. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting of death by STESS had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 with cutoff point ≥ 4. The best EMSE variable combination to predict mortality was EMSE-AEL using an optimized cutoff point of 34 (age/etiology/loss of consciousness) with an area under the ROC of 0.79. The STESS and EMSE would be useful tools to predict in-hospital mortality in SE.