Clinical and demographic characteristics predicting QOL in patients with epilepsy in the Czech Republic: how this can influence practice.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to assess the influence of different clinical and demographic variables on quality of life (QOL) in patients with epilepsy in the Czech Republic.


METHODS
Outpatients with epilepsy (n=268) who visited two neurology departments between 2005 and 2006 were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics were retrieved from medical records. Quality of life was measured by the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Using multiple regression analysis, we determined which variables were associated with QOLIE-31 overall and subscale scores.


RESULTS
Seizure frequency, employability and psychiatric comorbidity were found to be risk factors for QOLIE-31 overall score, accounting for 33% of the variance in the regression model. Seizure frequency was strong predictor for all seven subscales. Employability explained 10% of the variance in the QOLIE overall score and was the strongest predictor for Overall QOL, Emotional Well-being, Energy/Fatigue and Cognitive Function. Gender, type of seizures, age at onset of seizures, and systemic comorbidity had no significant association in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms that besides seizure frequency, employability and comorbid psychiatric conditions are strong predictors of QOL in patients with epilepsy. Interventions focusing on psychosocial problems and identification of factors that hamper employment in patients with epilepsy are necessary for improving QOL in these patients.
Tlusta
Eva
E
Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. eva.tlusta@faf.cuni.cz
Zarubova
Jana
J
Simko
Julius
J
Hojdikova
Helena
H
Salek
Sam
S
Vlcek
Jiri
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D018153:Czech Republic; D004651:Employment; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires