Beyond Seizures: The hidden burden of fatigue in epilepsy

To determine the prevalence of fatigue and depression in patients with epilepsy (PWE), explore their relationship, and identify the factors associated with fatigue in this population.

This retrospective cross-sectional study involved adult PWE at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April to July 2023. The Arabic version of the Fatigue Severity Scale questionnaire was used to estimate the presence and severity of fatigue. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for screening depression. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were analyzed.

In total, 259 PWE were enrolled. Of these, 66.8% had focal epilepsy and 39.7% had controlled seizures. Fatigue was prevalent in 34.4% of PWE, of whom only 10% had no depression. Significant correlations were observed between fatigue and female sex (p=0.002), uncontrolled seizures (p<0.001), and missed medication doses (p=0.03). Additionally, a considerable positive correlation was observed between fatigue and depression scores (r=0.5, p<0.001).

Fatigue is prevalent among PWE. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing and managing fatigue and depression to improve the quality of life (QOL) of PWE. Further research in larger populations is recommended to identify the predictors and effective management strategies for fatigue in PWE.