title: Behavioral risk factors among Arizonans with epilepsy: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2005/2006.
abstract: Modifiable risk factors to help improve health outcomes for people with epilepsy in Arizona were identified using the 2005-2006 Arizona Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Of 9524 adults who participated in this survey, 125 reported ever being diagnosed with epilepsy (lifetime prevalence=1.3%, 95% CI=1.1-1.6%). Individuals with active epilepsy (those who had seizures in the prior 3 months and/or were taking anticonvulsants) had an overall lower quality of life. This likely resulted from a large number of medical comorbidities and poor mental and physical health days. Regression models suggested that for individuals with active epilepsy, physical activity was associated with fewer activity-limited days, whereas for individuals with inactive epilepsy, medical comorbidity was positively associated with activity-limited days. Further research is needed to increase the reliability of the findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. jchong@email.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Hemant S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kudrimoti
authors.forename: Darlene C W
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Labiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013689:Telephone