COMPARISON OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED SEIZURES TO POPULATION NORMS
Abstract number :
2.023
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
3874
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Cynthia Hughes, David M. Ficker, Rakesh Shukla, Michael D. Privitera Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Few studies have compared health outcomes in patients with recent onset seizures to the general population. We compare SF-36 scores in patients with a recent diagnosis of seizures to population norms.
We prospectively measure the QOLIE-89, Profile of Mood States (POMS), Adverse Events Profile and the Epilepsy Foundation Concerns Index in patients within three months of a single seizure or new diagnosis of epilepsy. Serial measures are performed every four months. Inclusion criteria are: age between 18-64, able to read and speak English and a minimum tenth grade education. Exclusion criteria are: inability to complete forms, presence of other neurologic or medical disorders that may affect HRQOL, prior craniotomy and use of medications that can affect the central nervous system (other than AEDs). The SF-36 subscales can be calculated from the QOLIE-89. We compared the SF-36 scores for the first 40 consecutive patients enrolled to published norms (Ware 1993) using one sample t-tests. We compared both global norms (population norm) and age and gender matched norms (adjusted norm).
The means in our group of patients for the following subscales of the SF-36 were significantly different (P [lt] 0.05) than those of the general population as well as those of age/gender matched norms: Role Limitations [ndash] Physical, Role Limitations [ndash] Emotional and Vitality/Energy. The remaining subscales were not significantly different.
Significant differences were found in some subscales of the SF-36 between norms and patients with newly diagnosed seizures and they are in the areas of role limitations (both physical and emotional) and energy. Whether these differences are due to seizures or antiepileptic therapy is yet to be determined. [table1]
[Supported by: NINDS 5K23NS002170]