Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between demographic and clinical variables versus seizure-related complications among people with epilepsy.
Background: In spite of advances in care, people with epilepsy experience negative health events (NHEs), such as seizures, emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Being able to identify characteristics that are associated with NHE risk can help inform care approaches that reduce complications and burden.
Design/Methods: Data derived from a baseline sample of a larger prospective study of 120 individuals with epilepsy who experienced an NHE within the last six months. Demographic characteristics, depression assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression rating scale (MADRS), quality of life assessed with the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 10 (QOLIE-10), self-efficacy assessed the Epilepsy Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), social support assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), self-management assessed with the Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (ESMS), and stigma assessed with the Epilepsy Stigma Scale (ESS) were all examined in association with past 6-month NHE frequency and 30-day seizure frequency.
Results: Demographic variables were not significantly associated with seizure frequency or NHE counts. There was significant positive correlation between 30-day seizure frequency, PHQ-9 (p<0.01) and MADRS (p<0.01). 6-month seizure frequency was significantly correlated with PHQ9 (p<001) and MADRS (p=0.03). 30-day and 6-month seizure frequency were significantly negatively associated with QOLIE-10 (p< 0.001). 30 day (p=.01) and 6-month (p=.03) seizure frequency were positively significantly associated with ESS. Total NHE count was significantly positively associated with PHQ-9 (p=0.02), MADRS (p=0.04), QOLIE-10 (p<0.01), and ESS (p=0.03).
Conclusions: Consistent with previous literature, having more frequent seizures was associated with worse depression severity. A finding that is less established is that higher seizure frequency is also associated with worse epilepsy-related stigma. Epilepsy self-management approaches need to address depression and stigma as well as seizure control.
Disclosure: Dr. Kumar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zimmermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Liu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tatsuoka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fuentes-Casiano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cassidy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Einstadter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sajatovic has nothing to disclose.
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