Quality of life in patients with drug resistant epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: Quality of life (QOL) is considered the main outcome in epilepsy trials, but in developing countries such as India, data available regarding QOL in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) are scarce. The present study was designed to assess the QOL in patients with DRE and to identify the impact of various demographic and clinical factors affecting QOL. Materials and Methods: Data regarding demographic and clinical factors were collected among 50 patients with DRE at PGIMS, Rohtak. QOL was measured using the QOL in epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine which variables were associated with QOLIE-31 total and multi-item scores. Results: Among the 50 patients who were enrolled, the mean age was 28.48±11.66 years; 36% were females; 44% were unmarried; majority received primary and secondary education and belonged to upper lower socioeconomic status. Of the 50 patients, 30% had focal and 70% had generalized seizures, out of which 68% were uncontrolled seizures. The total QOLIE-31 score was 39.29±7.43. Lower QOLIE-31 scores were strongly associated with higher seizure frequency, lower socioeconomic status, and marital status. Of all these variables, seizure frequency and marital status independently influenced the total score. Seizure frequency negatively correlated with all domains of QOL, but this was significant for energy/fatigue and social functioning. Conclusion: High seizure frequency, marital status, and socioeconomic status are factors that had a significant influence on QOL.