INTRODUCTION: Despite use of currently available anti-epileptic drugs (AED), 30% of epilepsy patients are not seizure-free. The purpose of this study was to estimate the quality of life and economic impact in Spain of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), as defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). METHODS: Observational retrospective 12-month study conducted in Spain including adults with focal epilepsy treated with at least two AEDs. Direct costs (€ 2010) were calculated based on health care resources used and their official unit costs. Costs were analysed from the perspectives of the Spanish National Health System (SNS) and society. The impact of DRE on patients' quality of life was examined using the QOLIE 31-P, EQ-5D-3L, and NDDIE questionnaires. RESULTS: We analysed 263 patients out of the 304 recruited. According to ILAE criteria, 70.0% of the patients had drug-resistant epilepsy, while 20.3% achieved seizure freedom. From the viewpoint of the SNS, annual costs for resistant and seizure-free patients were € 4964 and € 2978 respectively (P<.01). Compared to resistant patients, seizure-free patients showed better scores on QOLIE-31P (70.8 vs 56.4, P<.0001) and EQ-5D-3L (75.6 vs 64.7, P<.001). Seizure-free patients showed a lower incidence of major depression compared to resistant patients according to the NDDIE scale (23 vs 8.3%, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that DRE is associated with increased use of healthcare resources and consequently with higher costs, poorer quality of life and higher incidence of major depression compared to seizure-free patients, thus representing a considerable burden to the SNS and society.
INTRODUCTION: Despite use of currently available anti-epileptic drugs (AED), 30% of epilepsypatients are not seizure-free. The purpose of this study was to estimate the quality of life and economic impact in Spain of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), as defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). METHODS: Observational retrospective 12-month study conducted in Spain including adults with focal epilepsy treated with at least two AEDs. Direct costs (€ 2010) were calculated based on health care resources used and their official unit costs. Costs were analysed from the perspectives of the Spanish National Health System (SNS) and society. The impact of DRE on patients' quality of life was examined using the QOLIE 31-P, EQ-5D-3L, and NDDIE questionnaires. RESULTS: We analysed 263 patients out of the 304 recruited. According to ILAE criteria, 70.0% of the patients had drug-resistant epilepsy, while 20.3% achieved seizure freedom. From the viewpoint of the SNS, annual costs for resistant and seizure-freepatients were € 4964 and € 2978 respectively (P<.01). Compared to resistant patients, seizure-freepatients showed better scores on QOLIE-31P (70.8 vs 56.4, P<.0001) and EQ-5D-3L (75.6 vs 64.7, P<.001). Seizure-freepatients showed a lower incidence of major depression compared to resistant patients according to the NDDIE scale (23 vs 8.3%, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that DRE is associated with increased use of healthcare resources and consequently with higher costs, poorer quality of life and higher incidence of major depression compared to seizure-freepatients, thus representing a considerable burden to the SNS and society.
Authors: Laurèl Rauschenbach; Pauline Bartsch; Alejandro N Santos; Annika Lenkeit; Marvin Darkwah Oppong; Karsten H Wrede; Ramazan Jabbarli; Witold X Chmielewski; Börge Schmidt; Carlos M Quesada; Michael Forsting; Ulrich Sure; Philipp Dammann Journal: Brain Behav Date: 2022-04-25 Impact factor: 3.405
Authors: Patricia E Penovich; John M Stern; Danielle A Becker; Lucretia Long; Nancy Santilli; Lynanne McGuire; Eugenia Y Peck Journal: Neurol Clin Pract Date: 2021-10
Authors: Medine I Gulcebi; Emanuele Bartolini; Omay Lee; Christos Panagiotis Lisgaras; Filiz Onat; Janet Mifsud; Pasquale Striano; Annamaria Vezzani; Michael S Hildebrand; Diego Jimenez-Jimenez; Larry Junck; David Lewis-Smith; Ingrid E Scheffer; Roland D Thijs; Sameer M Zuberi; Stephen Blenkinsop; Hayley J Fowler; Aideen Foley; Sanjay M Sisodiya Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.337