Sleep Apnea Increases Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk in Children With Epilepsy
Overlapping Burdens: Epilepsy and Sleep Apnea in Children
Children living with epilepsy already face an elevated risk of neurological complications, developmental delays, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Recent research highlights that sleep apnea—a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep—can further heighten their risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The interaction between these two disorders creates a dangerous overlap that places children in a particularly vulnerable category requiring close medical attention.