Clinical Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Patients with Epilepsy

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy has been known to adversely affect a patient's quality of life (QOL). We investigated the status of QOL and tested the influences of clinical factors upon QOL in epileptic patients. METHODS: We evaluated 125 adult patients (mean age, 30.4 years, malefemale=10.86) with epilepsy. The demographic, social (marriage, employment, religion, education duration), and clinical data (seizure onset age, seizure pattern during the last 1 year, treatment duration, number of antiepileptic drug) were obtained. Quality of life in epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) and Beck Depression Inventory-Korean version (KBDI) were used. The relationships of demographic, social, and clinical factors with QOL in epileptic patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean subscores of QOLIE-31 items were 52.6 (medication effects), 50.9 (cognitive functioning), 50.9 (social functioning), 50.5 (energy/fatigue), 48.4 (seizure worry), 46.8 (overall QOL), and 45.7 (emotional well-being), and the overall score was 49.6. Sex, marriage, religion, and duration of treatment did not affect QOL. The age of patients had a weak linear positive correlation with overall QOL and emotional well-being. Employed patients had a significantly high score in overall QOL, emotional well-being, cognitive functioning, social functioning, and overall score. The patients given polytherapy had lower scores of QOLIE-31 items except seizure worry and energy/fatigue. Seizure free patients had significantly higher scores in seizure worry, overall QOL, social functioning, and overall score. Depression negatively influenced all subscales and overall score. CONCLUSIONS: Age, employment state, number of antiepileptic drugs, seizure pattern, and depression were significant clinical factors affecting QOL in patients with epilepsy.