Authors :
Presenting Author: Gena Ghearing, MD – University of Iowa
Farren Briggs, Ph.D. Sc.M – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Joy Yala, MPH – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Clara Adeniyi, B. A. – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Jessica Black, B. A. – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Jacqueline Krehel-Montgomery, B. A. – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Meghan Tyrell, B.A. – University of Iowa; Martha Sajatovic, M.D. – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Rationale:
Understanding how demographic and clinical variables impact negative health events (NHEs), such as seizures, emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations may improve epilepsy care interventions such as self-management support.
Methods:
Data was derived from a baseline sample of a larger randomized self-management trial of 160 individuals with epilepsy who experienced a NHE in the last six months. Demographic characteristics, depression by the nine item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), quality of life by the ten item Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-10), self-efficacy by the Epilepsy Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), social support by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), self-management assessed by the Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (ESMS), and stigma by the Epilepsy Stigma Scale (ESS) were all examined in association with past six month total NHE frequency as well as NHE sub-categories of past 30-day and six month seizure counts, self-harm attempts, ER visits and hospitalizations. NHE correlates were compared for three subgroups of increasing rurality using the Rural Urban Continuum Code (RUCC) residence classification.
Results:
The mean age was 38.5 years (SD 11.9), predominantly female (N= 62, 66.0 %) and white (N=81, 86/2 %). Nearly half (N=43, 45.7%) of participants had annual incomes of less than U.S. $25,000. The mean past six month NHEs count was 20.4 (SD 32.0). Seizures were the most common NHE with a mean 30-day seizure frequency of 5.4 (SD 11.8) and six month mean seizure frequency of 18.7 (SD 31.6). There were few significant demographic and clinical correlates for total and sub-categories of NHEs. Worse physical health status was significantly associated with 6-month seizure counts (p= .04). There were no significant differences between the three RUCC subgroups on demographic variables. However, past 30-day seizure count, past six month seizure count and total past six month NHE counts were all higher among individuals from more rural settings (p-values < .01 for each).