Long-term efficacy and predictors of vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND

At present, a number of indicators have been analyzed for the relationship with the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients, but there is still no definite predictor of efficacy. This study is to assess the long-term effectiveness and predictors of VNS in DRE patients.

METHODS

We analyzed DRE patients monitored for over a year post-surgery (2016-2019) to evaluate VNS outcomes. Logistic regression was used to identify efficacy predictors.

RESULTS

Out of 162 DRE patients with VNS, 99 were followed for over 12 months, 80 for over 24 months, and 70 for over 36 months. At 12 months, 33 (33.4%) showed effectiveness, including 7 (7.1%) who were seizure-free. At 24 months, 32 (40.0%) were effective, including 12 (15.0%) who were seizure-free. At 36 months, 36 (51.4%) were effective, including 11 (15.7%) who were seizure-free. After 5 years, 27 (55.1%) were effective, including 8 (16.3%) who were seizure-free. Multivariate regression analysis identified structural etiology as a predictive factor for the effective VNS treatment (P = 0.039, OR = 0.35 [0.13-0.95]).

CONCLUSIONS

VNS effectively controls seizures, with effectiveness and seizure-free rates improving over time. Patients with structural factors are at higher risk of ineffective VNS, suggesting epilepsy etiology may predict VNS outcomes.