Socioeconomic prognosis after a newly diagnosed unprovoked epileptic seizure in adults: a population-based case-control study

PURPOSE: To investigate the socioeconomic prognosis after a newly diagnosed unprovoked epileptic seizure in adults. METHODS: Sixty-three patients 17 years or older with a newly diagnosed unprovoked epileptic seizure from 1985 through 1987 and 107 sex- and age- matched controls were followed up for 10 years to 1996. Studied variables were income, source of income, sickness periods, incapacity rate, diagnosis-specific incapacity rate, vocational status, and education. RESULTS: Relative growth of income was similar between patients and controls during follow-up. Patients had lower income than did controls 2 years before seizure onset and during the entire follow-up. This was related to higher morbidity among patients, as measured by sickness periods and incapacity rate. Employment rates did not evolve negatively among patients after seizure onset and were close to employment rates of controls during follow-up time. There was no difference between patients and controls regarding education. CONCLUSIONS: After a newly diagnosed unprovoked epileptic seizure in adults, no negative development regarding employment and education occurs. Income development is positive unless refractory seizures evolve. However, income is lower among patients with epilepsy than among controls, and this difference can be related to overall morbidity.