Psychiatric co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk factors in people with lifetime history of epilepsy of an urban community

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2012 Jan;114(1):26-30. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2011.08.019. Epub 2011 Sep 28.

Abstract

Objectives: Depression has been consistently reported in people with epilepsy. Several studies also suggest a higher burden of cardiovascular diseases. We therefore analysed psychosocial co-morbidity and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with a lifetime history of epilepsy in the PsyCoLaus study, a Swiss urban population-based assessment of mental health and cardiovascular risk factors in adults aged between 35 and 66 years.

Patients and methods: Among 3719 participants in the PsyCoLaus study, we retrospectively identified those reporting at least 2 unprovoked seizures, defined as epilepsy. These subjects were compared to all others regarding psychiatric, social, and cardiovascular risk factors data using uni- and multivariable assessments.

Results: A significant higher need for social help (p<0.001) represented the only independent difference between 43 subjects with a history of epilepsy and 3676 controls, while a higher prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidities (p=0.015) and a lower prevalent marital status (p=0.01) were only significant on univariate analyses. Depression and cardio-vascular risk factors, as well as educational level and employment, were similar among the groups.

Conclusions: This analysis confirms an increased prevalence of psychosocial burden in subjects with a lifetime history of epilepsy; conversely, we did not find a higher cardiovascular risk. The specific urban and geographical location of our cohort and the age span of the studied population may account for the differences from previous studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Cost of Illness
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Epilepsy / complications*
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology*
  • Epilepsy / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Mental Disorders / complications*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Behavior
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Switzerland
  • Urban Population