Caregiver burden and therapeutic needs in Dravet syndrome - A national UK cross-sectional questionnaire study

Dravet Syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with significant care needs for affected individuals and families. Our objective was to characterise the caregiver burden and therapeutic needs of families caring for an individual with Dravet Syndrome from child to adulthood, to examine age related differences in co-morbidities, and identify current gaps in health and social care.

Cross-sectional national survey conducted by the patient advocacy group Dravet Syndrome UK (DSUK) emailed to registered families caring for an individual with a confirmed diagnosis of Dravet syndrome. To characterise the sample, quantitative data on demographics, diagnostic journey, co-morbidities, therapies, healthcare utilisation, social care and funding, and impact on family life were collected. Qualitative data were analysed using grounded theory to develop a model of impact and service need.

165 out of 381 families (43 %) responded. 90 % of adult Dravet syndrome patients waited >12 months to receive a diagnosis, compared to 25 % families with a young child (p < 0.001). 96 % reported intellectual disability as co-morbidity, more frequently observed in older Dravet syndrome individuals (p < 0.001), alongside autism/autistic-like symptoms (χ² = 15.3, df = 3 p = 0.001) and scoliosis (χ² = 28.4, df = 3, p < 0.001). Sleep problems are associated with greater impact on caregiver's mental well-being (χ² = 13.2, df = 2, p < 0.001). 77 % of families wished more discussions about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and 50 % rated the paediatric to adult transition experience as 'poor'. 90 % of caregivers were unable to continue working as normal with negative impact on their quality of life (p = 0.024) and mental well-being (p = 0.007).

Families are profoundly impacted by Dravet syndrome. Their experience changes over time as people with Dravet syndrome become older and present with increasing levels of health, cognitive and behavioural comorbidities. Families will benefit from improved communication with health care professionals, psychosocial interventions and better access to social care.