Abstracts

Most reports of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in epilepsy involve selected populations in referral centers. Moreover, few data exist on health-state preferences in persons with epilepsy. The objective of this study is to assess overall and specific domains of HRQL in people with epilepsy in the general population, and to obtain epilepsy-specific health-state preferences., Data were collected as part of the 1996-1997 Canadian Community Health Survey (n=130,882). Health-state preferences were assessed using the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI-3). Specific HRQOL domains were assessed with the HUI-3 subscales of physical activity, work stress, emotion, affection, distress and depression scales. Health state preferences measured with the HUI-3 range from 1.0 (perfect health), through 0.0 (death), to -0.36 (state worse than death). We also analyzed scales pertaining to social function, stress and mood. Mean and 95% confidence intervals (CI[sub]95[/sub]) were obtained., The mean health state preference was 0.70 (CI[sub]95[/sub] 0.67-0.73) in people with epilepsy (n =803), and 0.86 (CI[sub]95[/sub] 0.86-0.86) in the general population (n=129921) (p[lt] 0.05). Overall HRQOL domains were lower (poorer) in patients with epilepsy than in the general population. Emotional problems, work stress, affect balance (negative affect), and depression were all worse in people with epilepsy than in the general population. Similarly, scales exploring aspects of physical activity, affect balance (positive mood) and tangible social support were better in the general population than in those with epilepsy., HRQOL and health-state preferences are substantially low in people with epilepsy not only in referral centers with selected populations, but also in unselected populations with epilepsy in the community.,