Quality of Life and Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy (EpiFit)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with idiopathic epilepsy compared with a healthy matched control group. In this study, 107 children conducted a 6-minute walk test, anthropometric parameters were measured, and HRQoL was assessed using a standardized questionnaire (KINDL-R). Children were divided into two groups: (1) the patient group ( = 48) and (2) the healthy control group ( = 59). HRQoL of children with focal epilepsy was greater when compared with healthy children and children with generalized epilepsy. A significant association could be demonstrated for the 6-minute walk distance and mental wellbeing in children with epilepsy but not in healthy children. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the HRQoL and the amount of time spent in front of TV and computer in children with epilepsy and healthy children was seen. In children with focal epilepsy, a significant negative correlation could be shown between school sport and mental wellbeing as well as between school sport and self-esteem. HRQoL in children with idiopathic epilepsy is significantly associated with physical fitness and might be positively influenced by an adequate education of patients and parents, a reduction of consumption of computer and TV in combination with age- and disease-adapted physical activity and sports.

Physical Activity, Ketogenic Diet, and Epilepsy: A Mini-Review

“…In conclusion, physical exercise and KD has a positive effect on epilepsy and is associated with reduced epileptic form discharges and increased seizure threshold, and seizures are unlikely to occur during incremental physical effort to exhaustion (Rauchenzauner et al, 2017). These findings are strengthened by studies in animal models of seizures and epilepsy, in which aerobic exercise training was found to retard the epileptogenic process, to reduce seizure frequency, and to promote favourable plastic changes in the hippocampus (Olivares et al, 2011).…”

“…Consequently, individuals with epilepsy have low levels of maximal oxygen uptake and cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced levels of strength and flexibility. The lower aerobic fitness observed in people with epilepsy may be associated with their sedentary habits (Rauchenzauner et al, 2017). Physical activity should be encouraged in this group, as previous studies have reported several positive effects of physical exercise in people with epilepsy.…”

Evolution of genetically determined generalized epilepsies

“…Актуальность исследования прогноза, исходов и, в части случаев, эволюции ГЭ обусловлена пожизненным течением большинства синдромов с влиянием на качество жизни пациента, непосредственно приступов, когнитивных нарушений в структуре синдрома или социальных факторов, обусловленных стигматизацией, коморбидными тревожным и депрессивным расстройствами, ограничением в учебе, вождении транспорта, трудоустройстве [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Данные аспекты остаются малоизученными в настоящий момент именно с точки зрения эволюции, в т. ч. в развитых странах.…”