Impact of epilepsy on QOL in a Portuguese population: exploratory study

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Abstract
Objectives – To develop an outcome measure of QOL (quality of life) for the Portuguese population; describe QOL in epileptics; analyse how QOL is affected by epilepsy and analyse how QOL is affected by patients' characteristics. Patients and methods – Study of a consecutive sample of 92 epileptics from an outpatient clinic, men and women, aged 15‐65, having the basic education level. Firm diagnosis of epilepsy (with or without seizures) without other illness. A questionnaire based on ESI‐55 and Health Insurance Experiment Short‐Forms was used. Principal component analysis (orthogonal varimax) showed a solution explaining 55.6 of total variance. After the inspection, the 33 items were grouped into 5 sub‐scales (dimensions). Results – Results showed that QOL was poor for people with partial seizures. The best scores were found on patients now free from seizures. Conclusion – The QOL measure is sensitive to cultural differences, demographic and disease variables which could explain the results found.