J Clin Neurol.  2018 Apr;14(2):206-211. 10.3988/jcn.2018.14.2.206.

Demographic and Clinical Correlates of Seizure Frequency: Findings from the Managing Epilepsy Well Network Database

• Chen E
• Sajatovic
• Liu H
• Bukach A
• Tatsuoka C
• Welter E
• Schmidt SS
• Bamps YA
• Stoll SC
• Spruill TM
• Friedman D
• Begley CE
• Shegog R
• Fraser RT
• Johnson EK
• Jobst BC

• KMID: 2407948
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2018.14.2.206

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease that represents a tremendous burden on both patients and society in general. Studies have addressed how demographic variables, socioeconomic variables, and psychological comorbidity are related to the quality of life (QOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE). However, there has been less focus on how these factors may differ between patients who exhibit varying degrees of seizure control. This study utilized data from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the aim of elucidating differences in demographic variables, depression, and QOL between adult PWE.
METHODS
Demographic variables, depression, and QOL were compared between PWE who experience clinically relevant differences in seizure occurrence.
RESULTS
Gender, ethnicity, race, education, income, and relationship status did not differ significantly between the seizure-frequency categories (p>0.05). People with worse seizure control were significantly younger (p=0.039), more depressed (as assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire) (p=0.036), and had lower QOL (as determined using the 10-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy for Adults scale) (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The present results underscore the importance of early screening, detection, and treatment of depression, since these factors relate to both seizure occurrence and QOL in PWE.

Keyword

epilepsy; seizure frequency; depression; quality of life; self-management

MeSH Terms

Adult
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Comorbidity
Continental Population Groups
Depression
Education
Epilepsy*
Humans
Mass Screening
Quality of Life
Seizures*
Self Care

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Age and QOLIE-10 and PHQ-9 scores among adult patients with epilepsy enrolled in Managing Epilepsy Well Network studies. A: Age. B: Total PHQ-9 score. C: QOLIE-10 score. Data are mean and standard-deviation values. *p value significant at p≤0.05, †p value significant at p≤0.01. FC: one to four recent seizures, PC: at least five recent seizures, PHQ-9: nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (lower scores indicate less severe depression symptoms), QOLIE-10: 10-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy for Adults scale (lower scores indicate better quality of life), SZF: no recent seizures.

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