The sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacotherapy characteristics influencing quality of life in patients with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Context:Quality of life (QOL) assessment in patients with epilepsy (PWE) is increasingly recognized as an important component in the management of epilepsy.Aims:The objective of the present study was to assess influence of sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacotherapy characteristics collectively on QOL in adult PWE.Settings and Design:This was a cross-sectional, observational study in patients with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy.Materials and Methods:QOL was assessed using modified QOLIE-10 questionnaire for epilepsy. Univariate and multiple regression analysis were done to determine factors associated with poor QOL, respectively.Results:There were 451 PWE, with a mean age 27.3 ± 8.15 years, 251 (56%) males and 191 (42%) had monthly income < 5000 Indian national rupees (INR)/month. The QOLIE score was 64.1 ± 15.97 (Mean ± SD). The univariate analysis showed factors such as lower monthly income, focal epilepsy, seizure frequency, antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy, conventional AEDs and frequent adverse drug reactions (ADRs) had significant negative influence on various domains of QOLIE-10 questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis showed seizure frequency as a significant predictor of most QOL domains and overall score, while ADRs as a significant predictor of all the domains. Seizure type was a predictive factor for domains like emotional well-being and overall score.Conclusion:Present findings showed patients on monotherapy had better QOL while those having lower monthly income, having focal epilepsy and who received conventional AEDs had negative influence on QOL scores. Further, higher seizure frequency and occurrence of ADRs were significant predictors of all the domains of QOL in PWE.

Stigma and polytherapy: Predictors of quality of life in patients with epilepsy from South India

“…[ 21 ] Usage of polytherapy in Indian studies ranged from 30% to 48%. [ 20 21 23 48 49 ] In the present study, 41% of PWE were taking polytherapy. Decrease in total and subscale scores of QOLIE was observed in polytherapy when compared to monotherpy taking PWE [ Table 7 ].…”

Adverse event of antiepileptic drugs: a cross sectional study

“…Epilepsy is a major non-communicable disorder reported to affect nearly 50 million populations worldwide, it is estimated that there are 55millions persons with epilepsy in India, 20 millions in USA, and 3 millions in UK [1]. Epilepsy makes up about 1% of total burden of diseases in the world (Global Burden of Disease), similar to breast cancer in women and malignancy in men, where 80% of this burden is presented in developing countries, including Indonesia [2].…”

Incorporating patients’ perceptions of their health into clinical decision-making processes

“…published the paper entitled “The socio-demographic, clinical and pharmacotherapy characteristics influencing QOL in patients with epilepsy: A cross sectional study”. [ 4 ] This study was conducted by the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the outpatient and inpatient Department of Neurology, St. John's Medical Collegue Hospital, Bangalore, over a period of one and half years from January 2012 to July 2013. In the present study the authors addressed in my opinion eight important points in the follow-up of patients with epilepsy taking into account the mental health as the main outcomes.…”

“…Eighth, no significant relationship was observed between QOLIE 10 scores and demographic characteristics, others different to the low monthly income, and between QOL score and the duration of epilepsy. [ 4 ]…”

“…[ 5 ] This is especially true for skin reactions caused by old AEDs and for those side effects related with the pharmacokinetic mechanism of the AEDs. [ 4 5 ] According to this, a rational used of AED can improve the QOL score.…”