PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the onset of pediatric refractory status epilepticus (rSE) is related to time of day.
METHOD: This study analyzed the time of day for the onset of rSE in this prospective observational study performed from June 2011 to May 2019 in pediatric patients (1 month to 21 years of age). The research team evaluated the temporal distribution of pediatric rSE utilizing a cosinor analysis and calculated the midline estimating statistic of rhythm (MESOR) and amplitude. MESOR is the estimated mean number of rSE episodes per hour if they were evenly distributed. Amplitude is the difference between MESOR and maximum rSE episodes/hour, or between MESOR and minimum rSE episodes/hour. We also evaluated the temporal distribution of time to treatment.
RESULTS: The researchers analyzed 368 patients (58% males) with a median (p25 – p75) age of 4.2 (1.3 9.7) years. The MESOR was 15.3 (95% CI: 13.9-16.8) and the amplitude was 3.2 (95% CI: 1.1-5.3), p = 0.0024, demonstrating that the distribution is not uniform, but better described as varying throughout the day with a peak in the morning (11 am-12 pm) and trough at night (11 pm-12 am). The duration from rSE onset to application of the first non-benzodiazepine antiseizure medication peaked during the early morning (2 am-3 am) with a minimum during the afternoon (2pm-3pm) (p = 0.0179).
CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of pediatric status epilepticus onset is not uniform during the day. Pediatric status epilepticus onset shows a 24-h distribution with a peak in the mid-morning (11am-12pm) and a trough at night (11pm-12am).