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EVALUATION OF HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY USING QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY QUESTIONNAIRE (QOLCE - 55)

Introduction: Epilepsy is a non-communicable disease that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Pediatric epilepsy is known to be interlaced with co-morbidities, deteriorating the Quality of Life (QoL). The assessment of the QoL is relevant for a comprehensive treatment of children with epilepsy (CWE). The purpose to evaluate and analyze the various factors affecting the quality of life in CWE using QOLCE–55 questionnaire.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted in CWE aged 3 - 15 years recruited from Department of Paediatrics, of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India.Structured case record form was used to collect demographic data. QOLCE–55 questionnaire was administered which is a 55-item questionnaire; the measures categorized under four subscales – cognitive, emotional, social and physical functioning.

Results: 86 CWE were enrolled. 48 [55.8%] were males and the mean age was 8.95 +/- 3.09 years. The majority were from middle (39 [45.3%]) socio-economic class and had focal seizures (47 [54.7%]). The overall mean QoL score was 55.044 +/- 2.257. The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in the physical functioning 62.955 +/- 1.794 and in the cognitive functioning 45.745 +/- 2.819. QoL was affected significantly by age of the child. Age at seizure onset, seizure type, frequency of seizure, or socio-economic status did not significantly affect the overall QoL.

Conclusion: Children with epilepsy have a relatively withered QoL should be a major outcome measure in psychopharmacologic treatment of epilepsy, instead of seizure control alone.