Epilepsy and quality of life: socio-demographic and clinical aspects, and psychiatric co-morbidity Epilepsia e qualidade de vida: aspectos sociodemográficos, clínicos e comorbidade psiquiátrica

Abstract

Objective To study socio-demographic and clinical aspects, as well as psychiatric co-morbidity that influence the quality of life of adult epileptic patients. Methods One hundred and thirty-two individuals diagnosed with epilepsy were evaluated from neurological/clinical and psychiatric points of view and by the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Predictive factors for the QOLIE-31 scores were studied. Results The regression analyses indicated the existence of psychiatric co-morbidity (total score, seizure worry, emotional well-being, energy/fatigue, social function and cognitive function) and a greater seizure frequency (total score, cognitive function and energy/fatigue) as predictive factors for lower scores in the total QOLIE-31 score and in various dimensions. Abnormalities in the neurological exam and poly-therapy with anti-epileptic drugs were negative factors limited to one of the dimensions cognitive function and social function, respectively. Conclusion The presence of psychiatric co-morbidity and a greater seizure frequency were the main factors influencing the quality of life in epileptic patients as evaluated by QOLIE-31. Objetivo Estudar os aspectos sociodemogr&#225;ficos, cl&#237;nicos e comorbidades psiqui&#225;tricas que influenciam a qualidade de vida de pacientes adultos com epilepsia. M&#233;todos Cento e trinta e dois indiv&#237;duos com diagn&#243;stico de epilepsia foram avaliados do ponto de vista cl&#237;nico-neurol&#243;gico e psiqui&#225;trico e pelo Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Foram estudados os fatores preditores dos escores do QOLIE-31. Resultados As an&#225;lises de regress&#227;o indicaram a exist&#234;ncia de comorbidade psiqui&#225;trica (escore total, crises epil&#233;pticas, bem-estar emocional, energia/fadiga, fun&#231;&#227;o social e cogni&#231;&#227;o) e a maior frequ&#234;ncia de crises (escore total, cogni&#231;&#227;o e energia/fadiga) como fatores preditivos de escores menores no escore total do QOLIE-31 e em v&#225;rias dimens&#245;es. Anormalidade ao exame neurol&#243;gico e politerapia com drogas antiepil&#233;ticas foram fatores negativos limitados a uma das dimens&#245;es fun&#231;&#227;o cognitiva e fun&#231;&#227;o social, respectivamente. Conclus&#227;o A presen&#231;a de comorbidade psiqui&#225;trica e a maior frequ&#234;ncia de crises foram os principais fatores a influenciar a qualidade de vida avaliada pelo QOLIE-31 em pacientes com epilepsia. </sec