Prevalence of active epilepsy and health-related quality of life among adults with self-reported epilepsy in California: California Health Interview Survey, 2003.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of self-reported epilepsy and active epilepsy, associated burden of impaired health-related quality of life, risk factors, and access to care in adults with self-reported epilepsy, and those classified as having active epilepsy with and without recent seizures.


METHODS
We analyzed data from adults aged >or=18 years (n = 41,494) who participated in the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).


RESULTS
In California, 1.2% of adults reported ever being told they had epilepsy or seizure disorder, and 0.7% were classified as having active epilepsy. About three-fourths of adults with active epilepsy with recent seizures reported fair or poor health status. Adults with active epilepsy with recent seizures reported almost two weeks of poor physical or mental health and activity limitation days compared with two to 4 days per month in those without epilepsy. Among adults with active epilepsy and recent seizures, about one-quarter reported not taking any medicine to control their seizure disorder or epilepsy. About one-third reported physical disability/unable to work compared to a small proportion of the general population. The majority of adults with active epilepsy reported having a regular source of medical care.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight the burden of epilepsy among adults in California. CHIS serves as a model demonstrating the value of including questions about epilepsy on public health surveillance systems to ascertain the burden of the disorder and to guide intervention research and public policy to improve HRQOL in people with epilepsy.
Kobau
Rosemarie
R
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adult and Community Health, Epilepsy Program, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. RKobau@cdc.gov
Zahran
Hatice
H
Grant
David
D
Thurman
David J
DJ
Price
Patricia H
PH
Zack
Matthew M
MM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012943:Social Security / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000927:Anticonvulsants