Quality of Life and Employment Among Patients with Epilepsy.

Objective: Seizures significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy while employment significantly contributes to the quality of life in general. Thus, in our study, we aimed to determine how the demographic and disease-related characteristics of patients with epilepsy impact quality of life and employment. Material and Methods: Our sample included 202 patients who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least a year and admitted to the Neurology Polyclinic between October 2023 and March 2024. Data about patients’ characteristics were collected using a sociodemographic information form while quality of life was measured using the Turkish Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31). Results: On average, patients were 29.07 ± 10.84 years old and had had epilepsy for 10.5 ± 8.92 years. Patients’ lowest mean score on the QOLIE-31’s subscales was for “Total Quality of Life” whereas their highest mean score was for “Social Function”. The total quality of life score of patients with low education level and low income was found significantly lower. Among other results, patients with a seizure frequency of 6 or more per month had significantly lower scores on all subscales except “Emotional Well-Being”, and patients with refractory epilepsy and/or receiving polytherapy had significantly lower total scores and scores on all subscales. Conclusion: Our results indicate that employment does not significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy whereas their clinical features do. Even so, physicians should take all conditions into account to ensure the highest-possible quality of life for patients with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]