Factors associated with quality of life in epileptics in northen China and the variations between men and women / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine main factors associated with quality of life in epileptics in northen China especially seizure severity and stigma, and the variations between men and women. Methods All patients with epilepsy aged 18-65 years were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, tested from March 2014 to March 2015. All of them completed the general social science data, the Quality of Life Inventory in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31), Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LEAP), the National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale (NHS3), Epilepsy Stigma Scale (ESS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale ( SAS) and Hamilton Depression Scale ( HAMD) assessment. Results A total of 123 patients with epilepsy (60 men, 63 women) were interviewed. QOLIE-31 scores were 55. 81 ± 10. 17 in female patients, 65. 35 ± 10. 89 in male patients, the difference being statistically significant (t=2. 90, P<0. 05). ESS (1(0,2)), SAS(31. 85 ± 8. 16), HAMD (4. 38 ± 2. 90) scores of female patients were higher than that of male patients (0(0,0), 26. 93 ± 3. 45, 2. 80 ± 1. 39;U= -2. 710, t=2. 48, 2. 20, all P<0. 05). Multiple factors analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis on quality of life revealed that depression (β= -0. 516, P<0. 01) and the severity of epilepsy (β= -0. 338, P=0. 01) were two strong predictors of QOLIE-31 overall scores. The linear regression showed that there was a direct link between shame and degree of depression (β = 0. 515, P= 0. 001 ) . Conclusions The main factors affecting the quality of life in epileptics in northen China are depression and seizure severity. Compared with male patients, female patients have a lower quality of life, and poorer psychological status, such as shame, depression and anxiety. There is a direct link between shame and depression in epileptics.