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Quality of Life and Employment Among Patients with Epilepsy

Year 2024, , 559 - 565, 31.08.2024
https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1474401

Abstract

Background/Aims: Seizures significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy, while employment significantly contributes to quality of life in general. Thus, in our study, we aimed to determine how the demographic and disease-related characteristics of patients with epilepsy impact quality of life and employment.
Methods: Our sample included 202 patients who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least a year and who applied to the Neurology Polyclinic between October 2023 and March 2024. Data about patients’ characteristics were collected using a sociodemographic information form, while quality of life was measured using the Turkish Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31).
Results: On average, patients were 29.07 ± 10.84 years old and had had epilepsy for 10.5 ± 8.92 years. Patients’ lowest mean score on the QOLIE-31’s subscales was for Total Quality of Life, whereas their highest mean score was for Social Function. The total quality of life score of patients with low education level and low income was found to be significantly lower. Among other results, patients with a seizure frequency of 6 or more per month had significantly lower scores on all subscales except Emotional Well-Being, and patients with refractory epilepsy and/or receiving polytherapy had significantly lower total scores and scores on all subscales.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that employment does not significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy, whereas their clinical features do. Even so, physicians should take all conditions into account to ensure the highest-possible quality of life for patients with epilepsy.

References

  • Saxena S, Orley J. Quality of life assessment: The world health organization perspective. Eur Psychiatry. 1997;12 Suppl 3:263s-6s.
  • World Health O. Basic documents. 45th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005.
  • McCagh J, Fisk JE, Baker GA. Epilepsy, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Epilepsy Res. 2009;86(1):1-14.
  • Taylor RS, Sander JW, Taylor RJ, Baker GA. Predictors of health-related quality of life and costs in adults with epilepsy: a systematic review. Epilepsia. 2011;52(12):2168-80.
  • Collings JA. Psychosocial well-being and epilepsy: an empirical study. Epilepsia. 1990;31(4):418-26.
  • Willems LM, Hochbaum M, Frey K, Schulz J, Menzler K, Langenbruch L, et al. Multicenter, cross-sectional study of the costs of illness and cost-driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2022;63(4):904-18.
  • Siebenbrodt K, Willems LM, von Podewils F, Mross PM, Strüber M, Langenbruch L, et al. Determinants of quality of life in adults with epilepsy: a multicenter, cross-sectional study from Germany. Neurol Res Pract. 2023;5(1):41.
  • Bautista RE, Wludyka P. Factors associated with employment in epilepsy patients. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10(1):89-95.
  • Wo MC, Lim KS, Choo WY, Tan CT. Factors affecting the employability in people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2016;128:6-11.
  • Mollaoğlu M, Durna Z, Bolayir E. Validity and Reliability of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) for Turkey. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2015;52(3):289-95.
  • Bazil CW. Comprehensive care of the epilepsy patient--control, comorbidity, and cost. Epilepsia. 2004;45 Suppl 6:3-12.
  • Alanis-Guevara I, Peña E, Corona T, López-Ayala T, López-Meza E, López-Gómez M. Sleep disturbances, socioeconomic status, and seizure control as main predictors of quality of life in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2005;7(3):481-5.
  • Buck D, Jacoby A, Baker GA, Ley H, Steen N. Cross-cultural differences in health-related quality of life of people with epilepsy: findings from a European study. Qual Life Res. 1999;8(8):675-85.
  • Senol V, Soyuer F, Arman F, Oztürk A. Influence of fatigue, depression, and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables on quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10(1):96-104.
  • Tlusta E, Zarubova J, Simko J, Hojdikova H, Salek S, Vlcek J. Clinical and demographic characteristics predicting QOL in patients with epilepsy in the Czech Republic: how this can influence practice. Seizure. 2009;18(2):85-9.
  • Cioriceanu IH, Constantin DA, Marceanu LG, Anastasiu CV, Serbanica AN, Rogozea L. Impact of Clinical and Socio-Demographic Factors on the Quality of Life in Romanian People with Epilepsy. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(10).
  • Baranowski CJ. The quality of life of older adults with epilepsy: A systematic review. Seizure. 2018;60:190-7.
  • Shetty PH, Naik RK, Saroja A, Punith K. Quality of life in patients with epilepsy in India. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2011;2(1):33-8.
  • Elliott JO, Lu B, Shneker BF, Moore JL, McAuley JW. The impact of 'social determinants of health' on epilepsy prevalence and reported medication use. Epilepsy Res. 2009;84(2-3):135-45.
  • Kinyanjui DW, Kathuku DM, Mburu JM. Quality of life among patients living with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: a comparative study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013;11:98.
  • Akdemir V, Sut N, Guldiken B. Factors affecting the quality of life in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Acta Neurol Belg. 2016;116(4):513-8.
  • Elsharkawy AE, Thorbecke R, Ebner A, May TW. Determinants of quality of life in patients with refractory focal epilepsy who were not eligible for surgery or who rejected surgery. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;24(2):249-55.
  • Gordon-Perue G, Gayle F, Fraser R, Ali A. Quality of life of patients with epilepsy living in Kingston, Jamaica. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;21(1):23-6.
  • Wo MC, Lim KS, Choo WY, Tan CT. Employability in people with epilepsy: A systematic review. Epilepsy Res. 2015;116:67-78.
  • Van Dongen CJ. Quality of life and self-esteem in working and nonworking persons with mental illness. Community Ment Health J. 1996;32(6):535-48.
  • Özbay F. SOSYO-EKONOMİK GÖSTERGELER BAĞLAMINDA ŞANLIURFA İLİNİN GÖÇ PROFİLİ. Econharran. 2021;5(8):180-207.
  • Taskiran E, Matur Z, Gül G, Bebek N, Baykan B, Gökyigit A, et al. The Impact of Affective State on Quality of Life in Focal Epilepsy in Turkey. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2019;10(2):267-72.
  • Edefonti V, Bravi F, Turner K, Beghi E, Canevini MP, Ferraroni M, et al. Health-related quality of life in adults with epilepsy: the effect of age, age at onset and duration of epilepsy in a multicentre Italian study. BMC Neurol. 2011;11:33.
  • Tombini M, Assenza G, Quintiliani L, Ricci L, Lanzone J, Di Lazzaro V. Epilepsy and quality of life: what does really matter? Neurol Sci. 2021;42(9):3757-65.
  • Gilliam FG, Fessler AJ, Baker G, Vahle V, Carter J, Attarian H. Systematic screening allows reduction of adverse antiepileptic drug effects: a randomized trial. Neurology. 2004;62(1):23-7.
  • Strzelczyk A, Aledo-Serrano A, Coppola A, Didelot A, Bates E, Sainz-Fuertes R, et al. The impact of epilepsy on quality of life: Findings from a European survey. Epilepsy Behav. 2023;142:109179.
  • Ehrlich T, Reyes A, Paul BM, Uttarwar V, Hartman S, Mathur K, et al. Beyond depression: The impact of executive functioning on quality of life in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2019;149:30-6.
  • Kwan P, Yu E, Leung H, Leon T, Mychaskiw MA. Association of subjective anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance with quality-of-life ratings in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2009;50(5):1059-66.
  • Guekht AB, Mitrokhina TV, Lebedeva AV, Dzugaeva FK, Milchakova LE, Lokshina OB, et al. Factors influencing on quality of life in people with epilepsy. Seizure. 2007;16(2):128-33.
  • Stavem K, Loge JH, Kaasa S. Health status of people with epilepsy compared with a general reference population. Epilepsia. 2000;41(1):85-90.
  • Chan MHH, Leung WCY, Lou WQV, Lo CNR, Chang RS. Employment among people with epilepsy in Hong Kong. Epilepsy Behav. 2021;124:108329.
  • Arcot Jayagopal L, Samson KK, Taraschenko O. Driving with drug-resistant and controlled seizures from a patient's perspective: Assessment of attitudes and practices. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;81:101-6.
  • Gilliam F, Kuzniecky R, Faught E, Black L, Carpenter G, Schrodt R. Patient-validated content of epilepsy-specific quality-of-life measurement. Epilepsia. 1997;38(2):233-6.

Epilepsili Hastalarda Yaşam Kalitesi ve İstihdam

Year 2024, , 559 - 565, 31.08.2024
https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1474401

Abstract

Amaç: Nöbetler epilepsi hastalarında yaşam kalitesini önemli ölçüde etkilerken, istihdam da genel olarak yaşam kalitesine önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle çalışmamızda epilepsi hastalarının demografik ve hastalıkla ilişkili özelliklerinin yaşam kalitesini ve istihdamını nasıl etkilediğini belirlemeyi amaçladık.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Örneklemimize Ekim 2023 ile Mart 2024 tarihleri arasında Nöroloji Polikliniği’ne başvuran, en az bir yıldır epilepsi tanısı olan 202 hasta dahil edildi. Hastaların özelliklerine ilişkin veriler sosyodemografik bilgi formu kullanılarak toplandı. Yaşam kalitesi, Epilepside Yaşam Kalitesi Envanteri-31 (QOLIE-31) kullanılarak ölçüldü.
Bulgular: Hastalar ortalama 29,07 ± 10,84 yaşındaydı ve 10,5 ± 8,92 yıldır epilepsi hastasıydı. Hastaların QOLIE-31 alt ölçeklerinden en düşük ortalama puanları Toplam Yaşam Kalitesi, en yüksek ortalama puanları ise Sosyal İşlev alanındaydı. Eğitim düzeyi ve geliri düşük olan hastaların toplam yaşam kalitesi puanının anlamlı derecede düşük olduğu görüldü. Diğer sonuçların yanı sıra, nöbet sıklığı ayda 6 veya daha fazla olan hastaların Duygusal İyilik dışındaki tüm alt ölçeklerde anlamlı derecede düşük puanları vardı ve dirençli epilepsisi olan ve/veya politerapi alan hastaların tüm alt ölçeklerde puanları ve toplam puanları anlamlı derecede düşüktü.
Sonuç: Sonuçlarımız, epilepsi hastalarında çalışmanın yaşam kalitesini anlamlı derecede etkilemediğini ancak klinik özelliklerinin etkilediğini göstermektedir. Yine de hekimlerin epilepsi hastalarında mümkün olan en yüksek yaşam kalitesini sağlamak için tüm koşullarını dikkate alması gerekir.

References

  • Saxena S, Orley J. Quality of life assessment: The world health organization perspective. Eur Psychiatry. 1997;12 Suppl 3:263s-6s.
  • World Health O. Basic documents. 45th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005.
  • McCagh J, Fisk JE, Baker GA. Epilepsy, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Epilepsy Res. 2009;86(1):1-14.
  • Taylor RS, Sander JW, Taylor RJ, Baker GA. Predictors of health-related quality of life and costs in adults with epilepsy: a systematic review. Epilepsia. 2011;52(12):2168-80.
  • Collings JA. Psychosocial well-being and epilepsy: an empirical study. Epilepsia. 1990;31(4):418-26.
  • Willems LM, Hochbaum M, Frey K, Schulz J, Menzler K, Langenbruch L, et al. Multicenter, cross-sectional study of the costs of illness and cost-driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2022;63(4):904-18.
  • Siebenbrodt K, Willems LM, von Podewils F, Mross PM, Strüber M, Langenbruch L, et al. Determinants of quality of life in adults with epilepsy: a multicenter, cross-sectional study from Germany. Neurol Res Pract. 2023;5(1):41.
  • Bautista RE, Wludyka P. Factors associated with employment in epilepsy patients. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10(1):89-95.
  • Wo MC, Lim KS, Choo WY, Tan CT. Factors affecting the employability in people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2016;128:6-11.
  • Mollaoğlu M, Durna Z, Bolayir E. Validity and Reliability of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) for Turkey. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2015;52(3):289-95.
  • Bazil CW. Comprehensive care of the epilepsy patient--control, comorbidity, and cost. Epilepsia. 2004;45 Suppl 6:3-12.
  • Alanis-Guevara I, Peña E, Corona T, López-Ayala T, López-Meza E, López-Gómez M. Sleep disturbances, socioeconomic status, and seizure control as main predictors of quality of life in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2005;7(3):481-5.
  • Buck D, Jacoby A, Baker GA, Ley H, Steen N. Cross-cultural differences in health-related quality of life of people with epilepsy: findings from a European study. Qual Life Res. 1999;8(8):675-85.
  • Senol V, Soyuer F, Arman F, Oztürk A. Influence of fatigue, depression, and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables on quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10(1):96-104.
  • Tlusta E, Zarubova J, Simko J, Hojdikova H, Salek S, Vlcek J. Clinical and demographic characteristics predicting QOL in patients with epilepsy in the Czech Republic: how this can influence practice. Seizure. 2009;18(2):85-9.
  • Cioriceanu IH, Constantin DA, Marceanu LG, Anastasiu CV, Serbanica AN, Rogozea L. Impact of Clinical and Socio-Demographic Factors on the Quality of Life in Romanian People with Epilepsy. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(10).
  • Baranowski CJ. The quality of life of older adults with epilepsy: A systematic review. Seizure. 2018;60:190-7.
  • Shetty PH, Naik RK, Saroja A, Punith K. Quality of life in patients with epilepsy in India. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2011;2(1):33-8.
  • Elliott JO, Lu B, Shneker BF, Moore JL, McAuley JW. The impact of 'social determinants of health' on epilepsy prevalence and reported medication use. Epilepsy Res. 2009;84(2-3):135-45.
  • Kinyanjui DW, Kathuku DM, Mburu JM. Quality of life among patients living with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: a comparative study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013;11:98.
  • Akdemir V, Sut N, Guldiken B. Factors affecting the quality of life in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Acta Neurol Belg. 2016;116(4):513-8.
  • Elsharkawy AE, Thorbecke R, Ebner A, May TW. Determinants of quality of life in patients with refractory focal epilepsy who were not eligible for surgery or who rejected surgery. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;24(2):249-55.
  • Gordon-Perue G, Gayle F, Fraser R, Ali A. Quality of life of patients with epilepsy living in Kingston, Jamaica. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;21(1):23-6.
  • Wo MC, Lim KS, Choo WY, Tan CT. Employability in people with epilepsy: A systematic review. Epilepsy Res. 2015;116:67-78.
  • Van Dongen CJ. Quality of life and self-esteem in working and nonworking persons with mental illness. Community Ment Health J. 1996;32(6):535-48.
  • Özbay F. SOSYO-EKONOMİK GÖSTERGELER BAĞLAMINDA ŞANLIURFA İLİNİN GÖÇ PROFİLİ. Econharran. 2021;5(8):180-207.
  • Taskiran E, Matur Z, Gül G, Bebek N, Baykan B, Gökyigit A, et al. The Impact of Affective State on Quality of Life in Focal Epilepsy in Turkey. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2019;10(2):267-72.
  • Edefonti V, Bravi F, Turner K, Beghi E, Canevini MP, Ferraroni M, et al. Health-related quality of life in adults with epilepsy: the effect of age, age at onset and duration of epilepsy in a multicentre Italian study. BMC Neurol. 2011;11:33.
  • Tombini M, Assenza G, Quintiliani L, Ricci L, Lanzone J, Di Lazzaro V. Epilepsy and quality of life: what does really matter? Neurol Sci. 2021;42(9):3757-65.
  • Gilliam FG, Fessler AJ, Baker G, Vahle V, Carter J, Attarian H. Systematic screening allows reduction of adverse antiepileptic drug effects: a randomized trial. Neurology. 2004;62(1):23-7.
  • Strzelczyk A, Aledo-Serrano A, Coppola A, Didelot A, Bates E, Sainz-Fuertes R, et al. The impact of epilepsy on quality of life: Findings from a European survey. Epilepsy Behav. 2023;142:109179.
  • Ehrlich T, Reyes A, Paul BM, Uttarwar V, Hartman S, Mathur K, et al. Beyond depression: The impact of executive functioning on quality of life in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2019;149:30-6.
  • Kwan P, Yu E, Leung H, Leon T, Mychaskiw MA. Association of subjective anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance with quality-of-life ratings in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2009;50(5):1059-66.
  • Guekht AB, Mitrokhina TV, Lebedeva AV, Dzugaeva FK, Milchakova LE, Lokshina OB, et al. Factors influencing on quality of life in people with epilepsy. Seizure. 2007;16(2):128-33.
  • Stavem K, Loge JH, Kaasa S. Health status of people with epilepsy compared with a general reference population. Epilepsia. 2000;41(1):85-90.
  • Chan MHH, Leung WCY, Lou WQV, Lo CNR, Chang RS. Employment among people with epilepsy in Hong Kong. Epilepsy Behav. 2021;124:108329.
  • Arcot Jayagopal L, Samson KK, Taraschenko O. Driving with drug-resistant and controlled seizures from a patient's perspective: Assessment of attitudes and practices. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;81:101-6.
  • Gilliam F, Kuzniecky R, Faught E, Black L, Carpenter G, Schrodt R. Patient-validated content of epilepsy-specific quality-of-life measurement. Epilepsia. 1997;38(2):233-6.
There are 38 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Original Article
Authors

Tülin Gesoğlu Demir 0000-0002-9341-5525

Suzan Havlioğlu 0000-0001-5593-5688

Early Pub Date August 30, 2024
Publication Date August 31, 2024
Submission Date April 27, 2024
Acceptance Date June 10, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024

Cite

Vancouver Gesoğlu Demir T, Havlioğlu S. Quality of Life and Employment Among Patients with Epilepsy. Genel Tıp Derg. 2024;34(4):559-65.