Health Related Quality of Life Assessment in Children with Epilepsy Aged 3-11 at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi

Epilepsy has a global incidence ranging from 50 to 100 per 100 000 children per year in high-income countries, with a disproportionately higher burden in low- and middle-income countries. Limited data exist on the health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy. This study assessed the health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy, aged 3-11 years, using the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire–55 (QOLCE-55). A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, that included interviews with parents of 200 children with epilepsy. Results showed that the emotional domain scored lowest at 59.8 ± 11.6 and overall quality of life was at 73.4 ± 10.8. Children with late-onset epilepsy had significantly better physical functioning (P = .03) and overall quality of life (P = .05). Additionally, children with controlled seizures were associated with better physical functioning (P = .003) compared with those with recurrent seizures. The study highlights the multifaceted impact of epilepsy on children's health-related quality of life and the need for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.