Document Type : Special Articles

Authors

• Nahid Ashjazadeh ¹
• Golnaz Yadollahikhales ¹
• Anaheed Ayoobzadehshirazi ¹
• Nazanin Sadraii ¹
• Negin Hadi ²

¹ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shiraz Neurosciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

² Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is defined as recurrent unprovoked febrile  seizures, which  cause  disability in patients.  This study  aims  to  assess  the  health-related  quality-of-life (QOL) in epileptic patients in Fars Province, southern  Iran.Methods: One-hundred epileptic  patients, above 18 years, referred to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated clinics, were included. The QOL of patients with generalized  and  partial seizure were assessed using the Iranian valid and  reliable  Sf-36 questionnaire. Patients’ socio-demographic and  their disease  features were also compared  with each other using a questionnaire.Results: In partial epilepsy group (n = 24), the  married patients in social functioning (SF) aspect  of  QOL (64.42 ± 14.29) (P = 0.024), the  patients  on antiepileptic drugs  (AEDs) monotherapy in both  physical functioning (PF) (88.75  ±  11.57)  (P =  0.030) and  SF (75.00  ±  6.68) (P = 0.022) aspects, the employed patients in PF aspect of QOL ( = 0.023) (91.87 ± 8.83) and those with high income in mental health aspect of QOL (P = 0.036 and correlation coeDcient = 0.413) got better  scores compared  with the partial epileptic patients who were single, on polytherapy, unemployed and had low to moderate income. In generalized epilepsy  group  (n = 76), patients  on AEDs monotherapy in PFaspect  of QOL (P = 0.025) (78.33 ± 24.36) and  employed  patients in vitality aspect (P = 0.023) (57.00 ± 28.25) had better  scores.Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows.Conclusion: Epilepsy can affect patient’s life in a number of ways  such as  their  lives, marriage, occupation, and education. We can encourage patients  to find a partner, continue higher education  and try to find a job.