The burden of chronic drug-refractory focal onset epilepsy: Can it be prevented?

Abstract

Despite the many therapeutic options for epilepsy available today, a third of patients still have poorly controlled epilepsy. Over the years, their transition through lines of treatment exposes them to increased risk of disease progression, mortality, morbidity, mental distress, and not least significantly impaired quality of life (QoL). The present review explores the multiple factors contributing to the impairment of health-related QoL in PWE-including both seizure-related and non seizure-related. The analysis aims to identify potential areas of intervention and strategies for a more holistic approach to epilepsy care and inform policy-makers and healthcare providers in their approach to this condition.

Keywords: Add-on; Burden of disease; Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE); Focal onset seizures; Quality of life (QoL); Third generation antiseizure medications (ASMs).