02067nas a2200253 4500000000100000008004100001653002800042653002000070653001300090653001100103100001200114700001700126700001400143700001100157700001500168700001200183700001300195700001300208700001100221700001300232245004300245520151200288022001301800 2016 d 10 aStigma (health related) 10 aQuality of Life 10 aEpilepsy 10 aBhutan 1 aSaadi A 1 aPatenaude BN 1 aNirola DK 1 aDeki S 1 aTshering L 1 aClark S 1 aShaull L 1 aSorets T 1 aFink G 1 aMateen F 00 aQuality of life in epilepsy in Bhutan. 3 aPurpose
To assess the quality of life in epilepsy (QOLIE) among adults in the lower middle-income country of Bhutan and assess the potential demographic and clinical associations with better QOLIE.
Methods
People with clinically diagnosed epilepsy were prospectively enrolled at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu (2014-2015). Regression models were constructed to assess the potential impact of age, sex, residence in the capital city, wealth quintile, educational attainment, seizure in the prior year, seizures with loss of consciousness, self-reported stigma score, and need for multiple antiepileptic drugs.
Results
The mean Bhutanese QOLIE-31 score among 172 adults was 48.9/100+/-17.7. Younger age, lower educational attainment level, and increased self-perceived stigma were each observed to have an independent, negative association with QOLIE (p < 0.05), while a patient's wealth quintile, sex, seizure frequency, seizure type and number of antiepileptic drugs were not. Education appeared to be most strongly associated with QOL at the high school and college levels.
Conclusions
There are potentially modifiable associations with low QOLIE. Addressing the educational level and self-perceived stigma of PWE may have an especial impact. The low QOLIE in Bhutan may reflect cultural approaches to epilepsy, health services, or other factors including those outside of the health sector.
a10591311