Predictors of quality of life among adolescents with epilepsy in the state of Andhra Pradesh

Assessment of quality of life (QOL) reveals the impact of diseases and factors responsible for the impairment of quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the QOL among adolescents with epilepsy (AWE) in the state of Andhra Pradesh. One hundred and fifty AWE aged 13-19 years were evaluated for QOL using the Telugu version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents (QOLIE) AD-48 and the data were analyzed to predict the factors responsible for determining the QOL. The mean age of AWE was 15.86 ± 2.14 years. The age at onset of seizures among AWE was 9.28 ± 4.90 years. Generalized (45%) and partial seizures (34%) were the predominant types of seizures. The majority of AWE (77%) were taking anti epileptic medication for 1-8 years, were on monotherapy (55%), and were seizure free for the last 1 year (56%). The mean total QOL score in AWE was 72 ± 15. The high school-educated, seizure-free, and monotherapy-taking AWEs showed a significantly higher mean total QOL when compared to the primary school- educated, seizure-frequent, and polytherapy-taking AWEs (P < 0.01). Education (standardized beta [Sβ] = 0.163 P < 0.05), seizure frequency (Sβ-0.603; P < 0.01), and poly therapy (Sβ-0.08; P < 0.01) were significant predictors of QOL in AWE. The results of the study suggest that in addition to seizure control, encouraging monotherapy and enhancing the education level may improve the QOL in AWE.