A.4 Entropy on routine EEG: an interictal marker of seizure frequency?

Abstract

Background: Sample entropy (SampEn) can quantify the unpredictability of a physiological signal. We sought to assess if SampEn on EEG could reflect recent seizure activity. Methods: Charts of all patients undergoing an outpatient EEG between January and March 2018 were reviewed to assess seizure occurrences in the follow-up period between the two clinical visits surrounding the EEG. 9s-EEG segments were extracted at pre-specified time points. SampEn was calculated for all segments and values aggregated at the 25^thpercentile. We performed a multivariate zero-inflated analysis to test the association between SampEn and seizure rate around the EEG, after controlling for age, presence of IED, presence of abnormal slowing, and presence of a focal brain lesion. Results: 269 EEGs were screened and 133 met inclusion criteria (112 patients). 80 EEGs (60%) were from patients with epilepsy, of which 47 had at least one seizure within the year preceding the EEG. Remaining EEGs were from patients who were deemed not to have epilepsy at last follow-up. Each 1SD decrease in SampEn was associated with a 3.93-fold increase in the rate of daily seizures (95% CI: 1.19–12.99, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Sample entropy of EEG is a potential objective method to assess contemporary seizure occurrence.