Seizure Attacks While Driving: Quality of Life in Persons with Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective:To study the effect on quality of life (QOL) of a seizure attack while driving in persons with epilepsy (PWE).Methods:From four provincial and eight university hospitals in Thailand, we enrolled epileptic patients who drove a car or motorcycle or used to drive. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate QOL. The mean SF-36 score for all dimensions was calculated and compared with patients who either had or did not have a seizure attack while driving and in those who either had or had not been involved in a traffic accident while driving.Results:We had 245 adult PWE who drove a car or motorcycle or used to drive. Of these, 69 cases (28%) had a seizure attack whilst driving. Over half (36/69; 57%) had had seizure-related accidents, most of which were mild but about 20% needed hospitalization. PWE having a seizure attack while driving had a significantly lower QOL in four of the eight categories compared with patients who had not. PWE who had a seizure-related accident had a significantly lower mean value in the vitality category than those who did not.Conclusions:Seizure attacks while driving diminished QOL in PWE even though they only suffered minor injuries. Driving as a QOL issue should be discussed with patients. A good public transportation system would ease the need to drive.

Epilepsija in vožnja

“…Merila za ugotavljanje telesne in duševne zmožnosti za kandidate za voznike in voznike prve skupine z epilepsijo v Republiki Sloveniji (prirejeno po 49 ).…”

“…43 Problem prepovedi vožnje je zelo čustven predvsem za osebe z na novo diagnosticirano epilepsijo, pogosto pa tudi za njihove svojce.49 Osebe z epilepsijo, ki so prvič izvedele o omejitvah vožnje, so najpogosteje občutile žalost (57 %). 44 Raziskave kažejo, da približno ena tretjina oseb z nenadzorovanimi epileptičnimi napadi nadaljuje z vožnjo kljub prepovedi36,43,44,50 ter da se ne držijo omejitev vožnje v glavnem zaradi razlogov, povezanih z zaposlitvijo.14,16,33,36,43,44,50 Pomembni so rezultati ene od raziskav, ki so pokazali, da je med osebami z epilepsijo, ki so v zadnjem letu vozile avto, kar 77 % zaposlenih, medtem ko je bilo zaposlenih le 23 % tistih, ki niso vozile.50 Merilo, na podlagi katerega se osebe z epilepsijo odločajo za nadaljevanje Tabela 3: Merila za ugotavljanje telesne in duševne zmožnosti za kandidate za voznike in voznike druge skupine z epilepsijo v Republiki Sloveniji (prirejeno po 49 ).…”

Epilepsy and driving: considerations on how eligibility should be decided

“…A Finnish study concluded that the accident rate was not increased among patients with epilepsy (n = 81) compared with control subjects (23). Fatal driver crashes because of seizures are rare events (16), and, according to questionnaire surveys, 26-28% of individuals with epilepsy report having had a car accident because of a seizure (24,25).…”

Prevalence and Characteristics of Domestic Violence in People with Epilepsy in Thailand

“…This also affects the economy and society with epileptics being unemployed more than normal people so patients' incomes are likely lower. They need to depend on family or other people because of their condition; these factors, of course, affect the quality of living standards of patients (10,11).…”