Initial Health-Related Quality of Life Assessments in Newly Diagnosed Seizures.
Abstract number :
3.086
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
1705
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
D.M. Ficker, M.D., Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; C.H. Hughes, R.N., M.N., Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; R. Shukla, Ph.D., Biostatistics and Epidemiolog
RATIONALE: Prior studies have shown impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with epilepsy. Few studies have been performed in patients with a recent diagnosis of epilepsy. We report the initial findings of (HRQOL) in a continuing prospective cohort of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and seizures.
METHODS: 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 score for the first nine patients enrolled in this study to published age and sex norms.
RESULTS: Nine patients (6 females, mean age 34.3 years, range 20 to 53) had the following mean SF-36 subscale scores: Physical Functioning: 92.2 (standard deviation 10.0); Role Limitations-Physical: 63.9 (41.7); Role Limitations-Emotional: 77.8 (44.1); Energy/Fatigue 65.6 (11.4); Emotional Well-Being 76.4 (11.4); Social Functioning 91.3 (18.7); Pain 78.8 (18.7); General Health 73.9 (23.8). Fifty-six percent of patients were significantly below the 50th percentile for age and gender norms for the Role Limitations-Physical subscale. One third were significantly below the 50th percentile for the General Health, Pain and Energy/Fatigue subscales. Twenty-two percent were significantly below the 50th percentile for the Physical Functioning and Role Limitations-Emotional subscales. Eleven percent were significantly below the 50th percentile for the Emotional Well-Being subscale. No patients were significantly below the 50th percentile for the Social Functioning subscale.
CONCLUSIONS: There may be significant negative effects on HRQOL early after the onset of seizures. Further longitudinal data collection is underway to determine if these effects persist.
Support: National Institutes of Health 5K23NS02170