RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEIZURE FREQUENCY AND COSTS AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF OUTPATIENTS WITH PARTIAL EPILEPSY IN FRANCE, GERMANY, AND THE UNITED-KINGDOM

Purpose: The relationship between seizure frequency and both health ca re costs and quality of life (QOL) was investigated in a retrospective , cross-sectional, multicenter study in France, Germany, and the Unite d Kingdom. Methods: Three hundred outpatients with stable partial epil epsy were approximately evenly distributed among five seizure-frequenc y groups, ranging from seizure-free in the last 3 months (group I) to dairy seizures (group 5). Economic data, obtained through patient inte rviews and record abstraction, comprised direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, and indirect costs for the preceding 3 months. Total societal costs in the three countries were pooled and converted to Un ited States dollar equivalents. QOL was assessed through a self-admini stered questionnaire, the Functional Status Questionnaire (FSQ). Resul ts: Mean total costs increased from $780 in group 1 to $2,171 in group 5 (p = 0.0001), with significant increases in each cost category as s eizure frequency increased. Greater seizure frequency also significant ly (p = 0.0270) correlated with lower employment rates, which ranged f rom 57% in group 1 to 30% in group 5. QOL declined as seizure frequenc y increased. Particularly affected were basic and intermediate activit ies of daily living (ADL), mental health, social activity, and feeling about health. Conclusions: The study results show that higher seizure frequencies are associated with higher direct and indirect costs and with reduced QOL for patients with epilepsy.