A Comparison of the Quality of Life of People With Epilepsy Receiving Home-Based and Clinic-Based Epilepsy Care Using the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Three-Level (EQ-5D-3L) Scale

Background and objective Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that, both physically and psychologically, puts a person at risk for poor quality of life (QOL). People with epilepsy (PWE) may experience shame, fear, and rejection and feel discriminated against, hence avoiding social interactions. To avoid being labeled as having epilepsy, patients may conceal their disease and refuse medical attention, which can lead to treatment discontinuation and significantly impact the quality of life. Epilepsy care in India has fallen back on primary care physicians because there are not enough neurologists available to treat the condition. Home-based care (HBC) may overcome many barriers by providing free antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), eliminating the “distance to a health facility,” and providing correct information that may improve QOL. This study is therefore conducted to compare the QOL between people with epilepsy receiving home-based care (HBC) and routine clinic-based care (CBC). Methodology The people with epilepsy enrolled in this study were already part of a community-based randomized controlled trial conducted to compare the effect of regular home-based epilepsy care with routine clinic-based epilepsy care on antiepileptic adherence among urban and peri-urban areas of Ludhiana, Punjab, India (explained further in the study). The present study is a cohort study where the two cohorts, one receiving home-based epilepsy care (n = 97) and the other receiving routine clinic-based epilepsy care (n = 76), were compared for QOL at two points in time, i.e., at baseline (at enrolment) and after 24 months of receiving epilepsy care, using the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Three-Level (EQ-5D-3L) scale. Results The mean EQ-5D-3L index scores for the HBC group at baseline were 0.88 ± 0.15, and after 24 months, the scores increased to 0.94 ± 0.17. The baseline mean index scores for the CBC group were 0.89 ± 0.21, and after 24 months, the value increased to 0.90 ± 0.19. The mean difference in QOL in the HBC group showed a higher difference than in the CBC group (0.06 ± 0.1 versus 0.01 ± 0.1), but the difference was found to be statistically not significant (p = 0.067). As per the five dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L scale, i.e., mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, there was a decrease in the number of PWE reporting problems among both groups after 24 months of epilepsy care. Sociodemographic and clinical variables such as level of education, working status, age at the onset of seizures, frequency of seizures, treatment regimen, presence of comorbidities, and adverse drug reactions significantly affect the QOL of people with epilepsy at p < 0.05. Conclusion The results of the study emphasize that epilepsy has a negative impact on QOL. The results showed a higher QOL among the people in the HBC group as compared to the CBC group, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was an improvement in QOL from baseline after dedicated care in both groups. The problems related to mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression have been significantly reduced in the HBC group. Having low levels of education, not having a job, starting to have seizures at a young age, having seizures more often, receiving more than one type of treatment, and the presence of other health problems and side effects are factors associated with poor QOL among people with epilepsy.