Early discontinuation of ambulatory vEEG among individuals with intellectual disabilities: A retrospective chart review

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective chart review aims to quantify the rate of patients with intellectual disability (ID) accessing an Australian ambulatory EEG service, and understand the clinical implications of discontinuing studies prematurely.

Methods: Electronic records of referrals, patient monitoring notes, and EEG reports were accessed retrospectively. Each referral was assessed to determine whether the patient had an ID. For each study where patients were discharged prematurely, the outcomes of their EEG report were assessed and compared between the ID and non-ID groups. Exploratory analysis was performed assessing the effects of age, the percentage of the requested monitoring undertaken, and outcome rates as a function of monitoring duration.

Results: There were significantly more patients in the ID group with early disconnection than the non-ID group (Chi squared test, p = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the rates of clinical outcomes between the ID and non-ID groups amongst patients who disconnected early.

Conclusions: Although rates of early disconnection are higher in those with ID, study outcomes are largely similar between patients with and without ID in this retrospective analysis of an ambulatory EEG service.

Significance: Ambulatory EEG is a viable modality of EEG monitoring for patients with ID.

Keywords: Ambulatory video EEG; Epilepsy; intellectual disability.