Quality of life and the self-perception impact of epilepsy in three different epilepsy types

• Published in: Journal of epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology 2007-12, Vol.13 (4), p.191-196
• Main Authors: Dourado, Marcos Vidal, Alonso, Neide Barreira, Martins, Heloise Helena, Oliveira, Arthur Raymundo Chaves, Vancini, Rodrigo Luiz, Lima, Cristiano de, Dubas, João Paulo, Caboclo, Luís Otávio Sales Ferreira, Guilhoto, Laura M F Ferreira, Yacubian, Elza Márcia Targas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CLINICAL NEUROLOGY; NEUROSCIENCES; PHYSIOLOGY
• ISSN: 1980-5365; 1980-5365
• DOI: 10.1590/S1676-26492007000400009

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and verify the domains of greater impact in patients with focal and generalized epilepsies. METHODS: The sample, composed by 57 subjects from Hospital São Paulo da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, was divided into 3 groups, temporal lobe epilepsies (TLE), extra-temporal epilepsies (Extra-TLE) and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). They answered a preliminary self-reported questionnaire to identify the perception of the most impaired aspects in their lives. The QOL was evaluated through the validated Brazilian version of the Quality of Life Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31). The correlation of the QOLIE-31 domains with epilepsy duration and seizure frequency was defined by dispersion graphics and also Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation. RESULTS: The most frequently identified impact of epilepsy was related to interpersonal, familial and social relationships mentioned by 13 (22.81%) patients. The seizure frequency per patient in Extra-TLE group was significantly greater (p = 0.007) than in the other groups. The Cognition Functioning scores were lower for the Extra-TLE group (38.4) when compared with TLE (52.6) and IGE (62.6) (p = 0.01). The correlation between epilepsy duration and QOLIE-31 domains did not demonstrate statistical significance; however, seizure frequency was correlated with Seizures Worry (p = 0.0463, alpha = 0.05) and Medication Effects (p = 0.0476, alpha = 0.05) domains. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Interpersonal, familial, and social relationships were the dimension which most impacted daily life; 2) Cognition domain in Extra-TLE group showed the worst scores; 3) QOL scores were similar in the three groups for the majority of the QOLIE-31 domains; 4) The seizure frequency in the Extra-TLE group was significantly greater; 5) Seizure frequency was associated with worse QOLIE-31 scores in the domains Seizure Worry and Medication Effects.