THE IMPACT OF EPILEPSY ON WOMEN--A COMMUNITY-BASED SURVEY
Abstract number :
2.299
Submission category :
Year :
2002
Submission ID :
343
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2002, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Patricia A. Gibson, Joyce L. Cramer, Patricia Dean, Alan B. Ettinger, David E. Blum, Michael L. Reed. Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT; De
RATIONALE: The differential impact of epilepsy on women is complex and there have been no large community-based surveys addressing this issue.
METHODS: A survey was mailed to persons with epilepsy (PWE) and to persons with no chronic ailments (NoProb). Subjects had been identified from a prior survey of 180,997 individuals from the National Family Opinion (NFO) database. The survey included demographic factors, a measure of quality of life (QUOLIE-31) and the Centers for Epidemiological Studied-Depression (CESD) questionnaire. Results were balanced to the US Census.
RESULTS: We identified 775 persons with epilepsy and 341 with NoProb. Women with epilepsy were 47.1% of the PWE group. Seizure control, measured by time to last seizure and self-reported seizure severity, was similar between men (M) and women (W). Self-reported cause of epilepsy was similar between men and women except for a lower rate of head injury (26.7% M, 20.1% W). A diagnosis of depression was seen in 33.1% of W compared to 27.3% of M with epilepsy. On the CESD scale, 31.2% of W showed scores consistent with ongoing major depression compared to 19.2% of M. 6.8% of M saw a psychiatrist in the past month versus 3.2% of W. On the Quolie, W showed slightly lower scores than M on every subscale with overall scores of 60 (W) vs. 64.9 (M). W were also more likely to have household incomes below $30,000 (54.6% of W compared to 46.0% of M).
CONCLUSIONS: In this large, population-based survey, women showed similar levels of seizure control but depression was more severe and quality of life slightly worse, compared to men. Socioeconomic status was slightly worse for women with epilepsy.
[Supported by: GlaxoSmithKline]; (Disclosure: Salary - 5th author is employee of GlaxoSmithKline who funded this project/ However, this paper is on a survey of women with epilepsy and their quality of life, emotional health, socio-economic status., Consulting - I have been consultant to Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, OrthoMcNeil, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Wallace Laboratories, Parke Davis, and GlaxoSmithKline, Honoraria - I have received honoraria for speaking from Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, OrthoMcNeil, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Wallace Laboratories, Parke Davis, GlaxoSmithKline, and UCB Pharma, Other - All of the above listed companies have also sponsored educational programs which I have conducted, they have all supported the Chili cook-off I hold annually for the Epilepsy Medication Fund)