The personal impact of seizures: Correlations with seizure frequency, employment, cost of medical care, and satisfaction with physician care

Abstract

We explored perceptions of the impact of seizures with a questionnaire survey of the Epilepsy Association of Massachusetts membership. Overall, 65% of the 150 respondents were adversely affected by seizures. Respondents with more than one seizure per week were more often adversely impacted by seizures than those with lower seizure frequencies ( p = 0.03), although half of those with one seizure or less per year were also adversely affected. The unemployment rate was six times the state average, and unemployed respondents were two times more likely to feel greatly affected by seizures than employed subjects ( p = 0.007), as were subjects who spent over $300 a year on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) compared with those who spent less ( p = 0.02). Persons who noted that seizures greatly affected their lives were less satisfied with their medical care than those who were not affected by seizures ( p = 0.007). A general question about major problems because of epilepsy was not as sensitive a probe as detailed questions about problems in specific areas. Health care providers should examine their patients' perceptions in detail of how epilepsy affects their lives, especially patients who have frequent seizures, are unemployed, have annual AED expenses over $300, or express dissatisfaction with their care.