Alcohol use disorder and epileptogenesis in primary malignant brain tumors: temporal and tumor grade associations in a nationwide EHR cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary malignant brain tumors (PMBTs), including glioblastomas (GBM) and low-grade gliomas (LGGs), frequently cause seizures, which worsen patient morbidity and quality of life. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a known risk factor for seizures in the general population, but its role in PMBT-associated seizures remains poorly understood.

Objective

To evaluate the association between AUD and seizure prevalence in PMBT patients, and to examine whether this relationship varies by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and tumor grade.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Cosmos EHR database (2015-2025), identifying 244,955 adult patients with PMBTs. Seizure/epilepsy and AUD diagnoses were ascertained via ICD-10 codes. Associations were assessed using ch

SUBMITTER: Hoffman K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12723976 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature