nfluence of Marital Status on the Quality of Life of Chinese Adult Patients with Epilepsy

Background： Epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures and has significant psychological and social consequence for everyday living. Epilepsy affects various aspects of ones＇ social life. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of marital status on the quality of life of adult Chinese patients with epilepsy. Methods： This study surveyed 805 Chinese adults who have been clinically diagnosed with epilepsy for longer than 1 year in 11 hospitals in Beijing. In this survey, 532 （66.1%） participants were married. All of them completed the case report form with enquiries on demographic data, social factors, and illness. The marriage status of adult epileptic quality of life was the dependent variable, and demographic data and clinical data were independent variables, analyzed through the multiple linear regression analysis methods. The patients＇ quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life in patients with Epilepsy-31 items （QOLIE-31） questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items （PHQ-9）, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items （GAD-7）. Results： The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the unmarried group （PHQ-9 = 6.0 and GAD-7 = 5.0） were significantly higher than that of the married group （PHQ-9 = 4.0 and GAD-7 =3.0）. The scores of married adult patients with epilepsy on QOLIE （61.8 ±15.3） and social function （70.9 ± 22.7） were higher than the scores of the unmarried patients aged between 20 and 44 years. The scores of married adult epileptics on the QOLIE （58,4 ± 14.6） and the energy/fatigue （62.1 ± 20.4） were higher than the scores of the unmarried patients （QOLIE = 58.4 ± 14.6 and the energy/fatigue = 62.1 ±20.4） aged between 45 and 59 years. For the adult epilepsy patients, depression, anxiety, seizures within the last year, disease course, medical expense category, and marriage＊ age are negatively correlated with the quality of life. Occupation, educational level, and average monthly income are closely related to the quality of life. Conclusions： Married adult epileptic patients have better quality of life than that of unmarried adult patients in young and middle-aged age groups. Unmarried adult patients with epilepsy are more anxious and depressed than married adult patients.

nfluence of Occupational Status on the Quality of Life o Chinese Adult Patients with Epilepsy

Background： Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of occupational status on the quality of life of Chinese adult patients with epilepsy. Methods： This study surveyed 819 subjects clinically diagnosed with epilepsy for more than 1 year in 11 hospitals in Beijing; 586 were employed （71.55%）. All subjects completed the case report form with inquiries on demographic data, social factors, and illness. The patients＇ quality of life was assessed using the quality of life in patients with epilepsy-31 items （QOLIE-31） questionnaire. Results： The QOLIE-31 score in the employed group was significantly higher than that in the unemployed group. Furthermore, the scores in all the sections （overall quality of life, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, seizure worry, cognition, social function, and medication effects） of the employed group were higher than those of the unemployed group. Both the employed and unemployed groups achieved the highest difference in social function. The QOLIE-31 score of students was higher than those of farmers and workers. Both the students and workers scored higher in the quality of life compared with the adult peasants living with epilepsy. The students and farmers showed significant differences in QOL1E-31 score, cognition, emotional well-being, overall quality of life, energy/fatigue, and social function. In contrast, no significant difference was noted in seizure worry and medication effects across the three different kinds of occupation. Conclusion： Occupational status might affect the quality of life of Chinese adult patients with epilepsy, and social function is the most important contributing factor.