Comparing the quality of life of patients with epilepsy receiving conventional and newer antiepileptics in a tertiary care hospital, Northern India

Abstract

Both conventional and newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are being used as initial monotherapy in epileptic patients. However, differences in their quality of life (QoL) scores have not been researched considerably. The objective of this study was to determine the overall QoL employing the QoL in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) questionnaire This prospective comparative research was conducted on 126 patients with epilepsy. Two equal groups, A and B, consisting of 63 patients each, were allocated conventional and newer AEDs, respectively. The allotment of the AED was as per the decision of the treating physician based on patient and drug characteristics. QoL was assessed at 0 and 12 weeks using questionnaire QOLIE-31. The QoL showed significant improvement with newer AEDs, while conventional AEDs worsened it. The subscales of QOLIE-31 showing the statistical difference in the mean percentage change were worry related to seizure, energy/fatigue, cognitive function, and medication effects. QoL did show a statistically significant difference in young and more educated patients. The patients who had generalised tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) demonstrated a better QoL than patients with partial seizures, as per the questionnaire. The findings of our study suggest that QoL is better with newer AEDs. There seemed to be no effect of gender, age, or education on QoL; however, subjects with GTCS displayed a better QoL. Therefore, newer AEDs can be helpful in improving QoL in epileptic patients. Newer Antiepileptics as monotherapy may offer a better quality of life to epileptic patients.