Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38358341›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2024

Work productivity, quality of life, and care needs: An unfolding epilepsy burden revealed in the Australian Epilepsy Project pilot study.

Clara Marquina, Emma Foster, Zhibin Chen, David N Vaughan, David F Abbott, Chris Tailby, Graeme D Jackson, Patrick Kwan, Zanfina Ademi, Australian Epilepsy Project

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Clara MarquinaHealth Economics and Policy Evaluation Research (HEPER) Group, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-0374
Emma FosterSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8958-3844
Zhibin ChenSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-6917
David N VaughanFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6225-7739
David F AbbottFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7259-8238
Chris TailbyFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Graeme D JacksonFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7917-5326
Patrick KwanSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7310-276X
Zanfina AdemiHealth Economics and Policy Evaluation Research (HEPER) Group, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0625-3522
Australian Epilepsy Project

Funding

Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund MRFF75908Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund RFRHPSI000008Victorian-led Frontier Health and Medical Research Program
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveEpilepsy is a common and serious neurological disorder. This cross-sectional analysis addresses the burden of epilepsy at different stages of the disease.

methodsThis pilot study is embedded within the Australian Epilepsy Project (AEP), aiming to provide epilepsy support through a national network of dedicated sites. For this analysis, adults aged 18-65 years with first unprovoked seizure (FUS), newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE), or drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) were recruited between February-August 2022. Baseline clinicodemographic data were collected from the participants who completed questionnaires to assess their quality of life (QOLIE-31, EQ-5D-5L), work productivity (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment [WPAI]), and care needs. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression was performed.

results172 participants formed the study cohort (median age 34, interquartile range [IQR]: 26-45), comprising FUS (n = 44), NDE (n = 53), and DRE (n = 75). Mean QOLIE-31 score was 56 (standard deviation [SD] ± 18) and median EQ-5D-5L score was 0.77 (IQR: 0.56-0.92). QOLIE-31 but not EQ-5D-5L scores were significantly lower in the DRE group compared to FUS and NDE groups (p < 0.001). Overall, 64.5% of participants participated in paid work, with fewer DRE (52.0%) compared with FUS (76.7%) and NDE (72.5%) (p < 0.001). Compared to those not in paid employment, those in paid employment had significantly higher quality of life scores (p < 0.001). Almost 5.8% of participants required formal care (median 20 h/week, IQR: 12-55) and 17.7% required informal care (median 16 h/week, IQR: 7-101). SIGNIFICANCE: Epilepsy is associated with a large burden in terms of quality of life, productivity and care needs. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This is a pilot study from the Australian Epilepsy Project (AEP). It reports health economic data for adults of working age who live with epilepsy. It found that people with focal drug-resistant epilepsy had lower quality of life scores and were less likely to participate in paid employment compared to people with new diagnosis epilepsy. This study provides important local data regarding the burden of epilepsy and will help researchers in the future to measure the impact of the AEP on important personal and societal health economic outcomes.

Indexed as

Drug Resistant EpilepsyEpilepsyAdultAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesHumansPilot ProjectsQuality of LifeSeizuresSurveys and QuestionnairesAustralian Epilepsy ProjectepilepsyHRQoLproductivity

Identifiers

PMID38358341
PMCPMC10984321

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.