ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Careful evaluation of pharmacotherapy, seizure control and quality of life (QOL) are helpful in improving epilepsy care but such data are relatively meager from developing countries. AIMS: To audit pharmacotherapy, seizure control and QOL in persons with epilepsy and to identify factors associated with impaired QOL. SETTINGS AND DESIGN & MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using a cross-sectional design in the setting of a tertiary care epilepsy center in India. Persons with epilepsy with > 12 months follow-up at this Center and aged > 16 years were eligible for enrollment. Persons with other disabilities or pregnancy were excluded. Subjects were interviewed with a standard questionnaire and an adapted version of Quality of Life in Epilepsy - 31 (QOLIE-31). Data pertaining to treatment at the time of referral to this center was extracted from medical records. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis were carried out for statistical significance. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve patients with epilepsy (59 males, mean age 31.2+/-10.7 years) were included. Forty-seven (42%) persons had Generalized Epilepsy (GE) and 65 persons (58%) had Localization-Related Epilepsy (LRE). At entry 24 persons (21.4%) were not on treatment and 59 persons (64.8%) had frequent seizures. At last follow-up 64 persons (57.1%) were seizure-free, 83 persons (74.1%) were on monotherapy and 29 were (25.9%) on polytherapy. Cost of drug at entry was INR 2276 (monotherapy) and INR 3629 (polytherapy) (45 INR = 1 USD). At the time of last follow-up, it was 1898 and 4929 respectively. QOLIE-31 Total Score (TQOL) ranged from 22.6 to 94.4 (mean 68.0 +/- 15.8). Multiple regression analysis showed significant correlation between low TQOL score and polytherapy (P=0.002) and occurrence of one or more seizures per month (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent seizures and polytherapy are associated with lower QOL in persons with epilepsy.