Abstracts

Rationale: Few studies have compared health outcomes in patients with recent onset epilepsy to the general population. We compare SF-36 scores in a cohort of subjects with newly diagnosed epilepsy to population norms and between subjects seizure and those not seizure free.Methods: We prospectively measured the QOLIE-89, Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Adverse Events Profile in patients within three months of a new diagnosis of epilepsy. Serial measures were performed every four months. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) is a generic measure of quality of life and can be used to compare to other disease states and population norms. The SF-36 contains 8 scales: Physical Function, Role Limitations – Physical, Role Limitations – Emotional, Vitality/Energy, Mental Health, Social Function, Pain and General Health. The SF-36 subscales can be calculated from the QOLIE-89. We compared the SF-36 scores for subjects who completed follow up 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). We also compared SF-36 scores between subjects who were seizure free to those who were not seizure free at last follow up using two sample t-tests.Results: We enrolled 53 subjects with newly diagnosed epilepsy (22 males, 32 females). Follow-up data was available on 40 patients (mean duration of follow-up 1.3 years). At last follow-up, 65% were seizure free and 35% were not seizure free. The following differences were found: For subjects who were seizure free: The means for the following subscales of the SF-36 were significantly different greater (P < 0.05) than those of the general population as well as those of age/gender matched norms: Social Function. The remaining subscales were not significantly different. For subjects who were not seizure free: The means for the following subscales of the SF-36 were significantly different lower (P < 0.05) than those of the general population as well as those of age/gender matched norms: Vitality/Energy. The remaining subscales were not significantly different. Comparing subjects who were seizure free and not seizure free: The means for the following subscales of the SF-36 were significantly different higher in the seizure free group (P < 0.05) than those who were not seizure free: Vitality/Energy, Mental Health, and Social Function. The remaining subscales were not significantly different. Conclusions: Significant differences were found in some subscales of the SF-36 between norms and patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. In addition, significant differences were found between seizure free subjects and those not seizure free.