Epilepsy in Canadian households: The financial pinch

It has long been recognized that epilepsy has a substantial economic impact on populations including health care costs and employment impact. There is a paucity of data on the individual and household impact of epilepsy on financial income.

Canadian data on households containing persons with epilepsy were derived from the National Population Health Survey of Neurological Conditions within the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a Canadian population-based cross-sectional survey that collects information related to health status (2010-2011). We determined the number of households in Canada reporting at least one member with epilepsy. We examined the difference in reported household income between households reporting at least one member with epilepsy with those not reporting any members with epilepsy. We then developed a model of reported household income within Canada in order to adjust the estimated impact on household income of having at least one member with epilepsy.

In 2010-2011, 122,911 respondents to the CCHS identified 1,254 households containing individuals with epilepsy, representing ∼ 594,200 households in Canada (95 % CI: 534,900-650,500). These respondents reported that household income for households with members with epilepsy was reduced by CDN$ 14,000 when compared to the mean reported household income of CDN$ 83,000, (p < 0.001). In a model of income, the adjusted impact of a household member with epilepsy was CDN$ 14,700 (95 % CI: 10,000-19,500).

The financial impact on Canadian households of persons with epilepsy is profound. While we can only speculate on the rationale driving this, the differential in average household income in households living with an individual with epilepsy is clear. This places an additional financial burden on persons with epilepsy (PWE) who may already face substantial medication, health care and caregiver costs.