Factors affecting quality of life of people with epilepsy in Georgia: An assessment

The Quality of life (QoL) of people with epilepsy is significantly lower than of those with other chronic conditions. This is influenced by seizure type, etiology, severity, treatment efficacy, and particularly by stigma. These factors vary across geographical and cultural contexts, posing significant educational, employment, social integration, and family life challenges. We aimed to identify key predictors of QoL in people with epilepsy.

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving adults with epilepsy treated as outpatients at the Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology in Georgia. We used the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess quality of life issues in people with epilepsy living in Georgia. We also collected data on the sociodemographic and clinical information related to epilepsy.

Three hundred and fifty-one individuals participated. Older age, lower educational attainment, female sex, rural residence, focal seizures with impaired consciousness, uncontrolled seizures, and polytherapy were associated with lower overall QoL scores. A mild to moderate negative correlation was seen between Beck's Depression Inventory scores and QOLIE-31 domain scores. Higher education, employment, and being married were associated with better QoL. The associations between poorer QoL, age, and educational level were consistent with previous studies.

Frequent seizures, polytherapy, rural residence, unemployment, and low educational attainment were associated with lower QoL. These findings underscore the need to improve academic and employment opportunities for people with epilepsy and emphasize the importance of raising epilepsy public awareness, particularly in rural areas.