Pavel Klein: Physical, emotional and social burden of uncontrolled epilepsy

Introduction

The session with Bettina Schmitz and Pavel Klein addressed physical and psychiatric comorbidities, and the impact of improved seizure control on mortality and morbidity.

In his talk Dr. Klein highlighted the physical comorbidities of epilepsy, from the so-called “epileptic heart” to cognitive impairment and effects on reproductive endocrine system and bone health. Epilepsy patients face an increased risk of mortality, with SUDEP as the second leading cause of death in epilepsy¹. The lecture also discusses suggestions to prevent SUDEP, detection and therapeutic strategies to reduce premature cardiac deaths and optimization of polytherapy.

Dr. Pavel Klein (MD, PhD) is the Director of the Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center in Bethesda, MD, USA and Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

MAT-NO-0043-P 2.12.2025