Health related behaviors and comorbidity in people with epilepsy: changes in the past decade

• Published in: Canadian journal of neurological sciences 2014-05, Vol.41 (3), p.S25-S25
• Main Authors: Roberts, J I, Patten, S B, Wiebe, S, Hemmelgarn, B, Pringsheim, T, Jette, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0317-1671

Background: Epilepsy is associated with negative health-related behaviors (HRBs), including smoking and poor participation in physical activity compared to the general population. It is unknown whether these HRBs have improved over time, and if potential changes in HRBs have impacted the prevalence of comorbidities. We aimed to explore estimates of HRBs and comorbidities in persons with epilepsy (PWE) over time. Methods: We used five cycles (2001-2011) of the Canadian Community Health Survey to estimate the proportions and odds ratios for HRBs and comorbidities in PWE over the 10-year period. Precision was assessed using 95% confidence intervals. Results: The study included 522,722 participants (3,220 PWE). The proportion of PWE who did not participate in physical activity decreased linearly over time (2001=17.2%, 2010/2011=8.5%), as did the proportion of PWE who smoked cigarettes (2001=32.3%, 2010/2011=18.0%). An apparent reduction in the prevalence of heart disease occurred in PWE (2001=11.7%, 2010/2011=4.0%), but not in those without epilepsy; however a similar trend was not noted for other cardiovascular risk factors or comorbidities in PWE. Conclusions: Apparent improvements in smoking cessation and physical activity occurred in PWE. Further exploration into the reasons for the apparent decrease in the prevalence of heart disease in PWE is warranted.