Abstract

THOMANN REY, Beatriz C.; RULL DEL AGUILA, Francisco; PORTAL ROSSETTI, Giovanni  and  PENA ALVAREZ, Trinidad de la. Work and health-related quality of life in patients with epilepsy. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2016, vol.62, n.243, pp.157-174. ISSN 1989-7790.

Introduction: When population's health is studied, and premature mortality is being monitored, Quality of Life indicators are gaining ground to the detriment of Quantity of Health indicators. Health-related Quality of Life (CVRS) scales can help to assess the ability of epileptic workers. Objective: To analyse if employability has an effect on epileptic patient's CVRS and how the Energy/Fatigue and Cognitive Functioning scales are affected by using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory QOLIE-31. Methods: Data were collected from bibliographic search using the databases PubMed, SciELO, IBECS, Cochrane Plus, Google Scholar and LILACS. The reliability of the questionnaires was determined according to the SIGN guidelines. Results: 10 out of 244 retrieved articles were selected. Six of them are cross-sectional studies, and only one was significantly correlated, p<0.001 in the multivariate regression analysis between work and the total result of QOLIE31. Three of the four remaining articles, which are for validation purposes, revealed statistically significant correlations of p<0.001, p<0.0001 and p=0.002 but just in the univariate analysis. The frequency of seizures and the existence of depressive symptoms were the explanatory variables with a greater predictive value within the Energy/Fatigue and Cognitive Functioning scales. Conclusions: It cannot be concluded that epileptic workers have a higher CVRS than the patients who do not work. There are relevant selection and information bias other than cultural and social differences. CVRS scales can help to assess the ability of workers with epilepsy.

Keywords : Epilepsy; Quality of Life; QOLIE-31.

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