Factors Associated with Poor Antiepileptic Drugs Adherence in Below Poverty Line Persons with Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Adherence to antiepileptic drugs (AED) is essential for adequate seizure control in epilepsy. People with low socioeconomic status are more vulnerable to poor adherence to AED. The present study aimed to explore factors associated with poor adherence to antiepileptic drugs in below poverty line (BPL) persons with epilepsy (PWE). Methods The research had a cross-sectional design with inclusion of persons aged 18 to 65 years and an established diagnosis of epilepsy. Holding a BPL card (Yellow card) was taken as a measure for BPL criteria. Adherence to antiepileptic drugs was assessed using medication adherence rating scale (MARS). Univariate analysis with Chi-square test was used to determine the association between various variables and AED adherence, while the predictors of adherence were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results There was a total of 88 BPL PWE. The mean age of male and female patients was 35.0 ± 15.0 & 32.0 ± 10.1 years, respectively. Adherence for drugs were found to be 30.7% and nonadherence to be 44.3%. Low (illiterate or primary) education (OR 0.041 [0.01–0.21]), polytherapy (OR 0.088 [0.02–0.40]), and substance abuse (OR 0.05 [0.01–0.58]) were found to have significant association with nonadherence to AEDs. Age, gender, marital status, family composition, occupation, rural urban background, distance from health care facility, duration of epilepsy, and side effects of AED were not found to have significant association with adherence. Conclusion There is a need for psychoeducational programs for the people having low education status and polytherapy to form positive beliefs in AEDs. Substance abuse should also be addressed while treating them.

Non-Adherence to Antiepileptic Drugs and Associated Factors among Epileptic Patients at Ambulatory Clinic of Southwestern Ethiopian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is consistent with the study of Uganda that is 77%.01 23 and inconsistent with the study of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC), Karnal, in which about half of them had a duration of >10 years. 6 However, the duration of epilepsy was not the predictors of patient’s non-adherence to AEDs. This is in line with the finding of Saudi Arabia.…”

“… 6 , 11 Non-adherence to AEDs has been linked to a number of conditions, including polytherapy, duration of the disease, lower education level, substance use, comorbidity, female sex, and a history of hospitalization. 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 Despite this, there were a scanty of findings in Ethiopia, and no research has been done on the magnitude and predictors of anti-epileptic drug non-adherence among ambulatory clinic epileptic patients in our study area. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the magnitudes and determinants of non-adherence among ambulatory epileptic patients.…”

“…5 Poor adherence to AEDs is one possible cause of epileptic treatment failure. 5,6 Although various interventions have been undertaken to enhance anti-epileptic drug adherence in patients with epilepsy, most interventions appear to fall short of their objectives, and anti-epileptic medication non-adherence remains an issue. 7 Non-adherence to AEDs was the most common drug therapy issue that hampered epileptic patients' treatment success.…”

“…7 The studies of different settings reported that about half of the epileptic patients were non-adherent to the AEDs. 6,11 Non-adherence to AEDs has been linked to a number of conditions, including polytherapy, duration of the disease, lower education level, substance use, comorbidity, female sex, and a history of hospitalization. 6,8,11,12 Despite this, there were a scanty of findings in Ethiopia, and no research has been done on the magnitude and predictors of anti-epileptic drug non-adherence among ambulatory clinic epileptic patients in our study area.…”

Effect of irisin on the epilepsy induced by penicillin G: An electrophysiological study

“…Antiepileptic drugs act by increasing the activity of GABA in the brain or by blocking the glutamate receptors (8). Antiepileptic drug therapy is very effective in providing seizure control, however, approximately 30% of patients continue to have seizures (9).…”