Abstracts

Prior work has shown that the effects of epilepsy on QOL are dependent on many factors including seizure control, physical and social well being, and the ability to drive. In this study we use Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF36), a generic QOL measure, to compare the QOL in Polish patients with medication-controlled and medication-resistant epilepsy. We collected data on 85 epilepsy patients who presented for followup to the Antiepileptic Outpatient Clinic and to the Neurological Department of City Hospital, both in Bydgoszcz,Poland. Patients were eligible to participate if they were 18 years of age or older, had no significant mental handicap,and were able to and completed the questionnaire on their own. Demographic characteristics and medical history were collected through review of medical chart and self-reports. Comorbidities are defined as chronic health problems other than epilepsy.The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee. Data on 60 patients with medication-resistant and 25 with medication-controlled epilepsy were collected. There were no differences between groups in age of onset (22.7 vs.22.7;P=0.99), number of types of seizures(1.7vs.1.6;P=0.48) or number of comorbidities(0.62 vs.0.32;P=0.08),respectively. Differences were noted in age (40.3 vs. 32.2;P=0.014)and number of AEDs(2.8 vs. 1.8;P=0.004). On all subscales of SF-36, the scores were lower in patients with medication refractory epilepsy (all P[lt]0.001). This initial study verifies the utility of SF-36 instrument in evaluation of HRQOL in Polish patients with epilepsy. Our findings confirm the differences in HRQOL between patients with medication-controlled and medication-resistant epilepsy that are observed in other countries.