Abstracts

Rationale: We have previously published data showing a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and preliminary data on increased risk taking behaviour in youths with epilepsy compared to controls. The aim of this presentation was to investigate the participation in sports, self awareness about physical appearance and possible use of doping in youth with epilepsy (aged 13- 19) compared to controls in a Norwegian County. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and based on questionnaires from youths with epilepsy aged 13-19. 19995 questionnaires were filled in (response rate 85 %). 247 (1.2%) reported having or having had epilepsy. Student’s t test and chi square test were used testing for group differences for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results: The level of physical activity did not differ significantly between youth with and without epilepsy. Girls with epilepsy were active in top level sports more often than controls (49 % vs. 37 %, p= 0.016). Boys with epilepsy had the same top physical activity as controls. 16 % of boys with epilepsy had used enhancing drugs compared to 4 % of boys without epilepsy (p= < 0.001). There was no significant difference in girls. Boys with epilepsy were more dissatisfied with own appearance than controls,16 vs. 7 % (p= 0.001). Girls reported no difference. Conclusions: Surprisingly the percentage of girls with epilepsy participating in top level sports was higher than in controls. Boys with epilepsy were as active as controls. Boys, however, were more dissatisfied with own physical appearance and report higher use of enhancing drugs. We think that these two findings in boys may be connected and also related to prior findings on increased risk taking behaviour. Youth with epilepsy, although being physically active, may therefore still be at risk for undesirable behaviour.