Quality of Life in Epilepsy Surgery Candidates.
Abstract number :
3.223
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
1672
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
E.M. Pestana, MD, Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH; N. Foldvary, MD, Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH; D. Masillio, RN, Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH; C. Burant, MA, Internal Medicine and H
RATIONALE: The extent to which successfull epilepsy surgery affects quality of life (QOL) is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate lifestyle, education, and occupational status in patients presenting to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Epilepsy Center for surgical consideration during 1997-2000.
METHODS: An 89-item QOL quationnire developed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation was administered to 224 patients during the VEEG monitoring evaluation. The patients were 15 to 82 years old (mean=36.2; SD+/-11.18). 51.8% were female. Patients were stratified into five subgroups as followes: Group 1 (N=53): Onset of epilepsy before age 19 with other chronic non-neurological diseases (OCD). Group 2 (N=75): Onset before age 19 without OCD. Group 3 (N=29): Onset after 19 years with OCD. Group 4 (N=23): Onset after age 19 without OCD. Group 5 (N=36): Non-epileptic seizures (NES). Chi-squares were used to compare groups. Differences were established when Pearson chi-square had more than 95% of significance.
RESULTS: Patients in groups 1 (50.9%) and 2 (50.7%) were more likely to be single and patients in groups 3 (20.7%) and 5 (19.4%) more likely to be divorced (x2=29.69; p=0.020). Patients in groups 1 and 2 were less likely to have had children (x2=24.165; p=0.00), or have a drivers license (x2=36.156; p=0.00), and more likely to be living with their parents (x=36.038; p=0.015), and in need of emotional support (x2=11.803; p=0.019). Patients in groups 3 (14.3%) and 5 (17.1%) were more likely to live alone (x2=36.038); p=0.015), and claimed to need assistance with bathing, dressing or eating (x2=9.998; p=0.04) and housework, shopping or meal preparation (x2=14.229; p=0.007). Patients in groups 1 and 2 had the lowest occupational level; group 3 had intermediate level, and groups 4 and 5 the highest occupational level (x2=48.049; p=0.011). Patients in groups 1 and 2 had the highest expectations for better job opportunities following successful epilepsy surgery (x2=11.493; p=0.022).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with intractable epilepsy seem to differ from a psychosocial standpoint depending on the age of seizures onset and the presence of OCD. Somewhat surprising is that patients with NES perceived that they need more assistance with activities of daily living.