Health-related quality of life of children with seizure disorder in Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Seizure disorder is a common chronic neurologic condition in children. Children with seizure disorder have been reported to have a more compromised health-related quality of life compared with healthy children. No known study has been undertaken in our environment. Objectives: To assess the health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy and to compare it with that of apparently healthy children in Uyo, Nigeria. Methods: Child self-report and parent-proxy report questionnaires (Pediatrics Quality of Life inventory version 4.0) were administered to 60 children and their mothers. Thirty of the children had seizure disorders and 30 were apparently healthy children who were age, gender and social class matched with the subjects. Parental education and occupation were used to allot a social class to the children. Results: Of the 30 subjects/controls, 10 (33.3%) were males while 20 (66.7%) were females giving a male to female ratio of 1:2. Thirteen belonged to 8-12 years age group, 12 were 13-18 years old while 5 were 5-7 years of age. Majority (27) belonged to the upper and middle social classes and 3 belonged to the lower social class. Twenty children had good seizure control while 10 had one or more seizure episodes per month. Children with seizure disorder had mean total score and mean score in the subscales that was significantly lower than that of the controls. Good quality of life was associated with good seizure control. Conclusion: Children with seizure disorder had lower health related quality of life than apparently healthy children. There is therefore need to maintain good seizure control in children with seizure disorder as it has a positive impact on health-related quality of life of these children.