Epilepsy in children: quality of life and disease control

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Quality of Life Research
• Epilepsy Management

Background:

• Childhood epilepsy poses significant challenges to a child's health, quality of life (QoL), and overall development.
• Understanding the factors influencing QoL and disease control is crucial for effective pediatric epilepsy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease control in pediatric epilepsy patients in Jordan.
• To identify determinants associated with higher HRQoL and better seizure control.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 178 pediatric epilepsy patients in Jordan.
• Quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-55).
• Disease control was defined as being seizure-free for one year.

Main Results:

• The mean HRQoL score was 50.74 ± 22.54, with emotional wellbeing scoring highest and physical functioning lowest.
• Higher HRQoL was associated with older age at diagnosis, absence of comorbidities, fewer annual seizures, and reduced antiepileptic medication use.
• Only 42.1% of patients had controlled epilepsy; disease control correlated with older age and higher QoL, while uncontrolled seizures were linked to caregiver exhaustion and polytherapy.

Conclusions:

• Childhood epilepsy substantially diminishes children's QoL.
• Older age at diagnosis, fewer comorbidities, reduced seizure frequency, and less medication contribute to better QoL and seizure control.
• Interventions focusing on caregiver support and minimizing polytherapy may improve both QoL and epilepsy management in children.