ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of occupational status on the quality of life of Chinese adult patients with epilepsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study surveyed 819 subjects clinically diagnosed with epilepsy for more than 1 year in 11 hospitals in Beijing; 586 were employed (71.55%). All subjects completed the case report form with inquiries on demographic data, social factors, and illness. The patients' quality of life was assessed using the quality of life in patients with epilepsy-31 items (QOLIE-31) questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The QOLIE-31 score in the employed group was significantly higher than that in the unemployed group. Furthermore, the scores in all the sections (overall quality of life, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, seizure worry, cognition, social function, and medication effects) of the employed group were higher than those of the unemployed group. Both the employed and unemployed groups achieved the highest difference in social function. The QOLIE-31 score of students was higher than those of farmers and workers. Both the students and workers scored higher in the quality of life compared with the adult peasants living with epilepsy. The students and farmers showed significant differences in QOLIE-31 score, cognition, emotional well-being, overall quality of life, energy/fatigue, and social function. In contrast, no significant difference was noted in seizure worry and medication effects across the three different kinds of occupation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Occupational status might affect the quality of life of Chinese adult patients with epilepsy, and social function is the most important contributing factor.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Asian People , Employment , Epilepsy , Epidemiology , Quality of Life , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess and explore the quality of life and related factors among 291 outpatient adults with epilepsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July, 2005 to July, 2006, eligible outpatient epilepsy in a hospital was evaluated by the scale on quality of life in epilepsy-31 (Chinese version).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total scores of quality of life was low (56.46 +/- 16.58). The scores of quality of life in each item were as follows: seizure worry (45.01 +/- 25.25); overall quality of life (56. 12 +/- 16.37); emotional well-being (59.35 +/- 19.56); cognitive function (58.58 +/- 22.41); energy/fatigue (59.12 +/- 18.98); medication effects (40.45 +/- 24.44) and social function (53.00 +/- 26.36). The quality of life of patients with different education background, drug intake and side effects was different significantly (P < 0.05). Data on Multi-linear regression showed that education background, side effects would affect the quality of life.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of life of outpatient adults with epilepsy was low with education background, while side effects and drugs intake might serve as important factors affecting the quality of life with epilepsy.</p>