Clinical Profile and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Alcohol-Related Seizures

Background: Alcohol-related seizures (ARS) refer to all seizures associated with alcohol use, including alcohol withdrawal seizures (AWS). There is paucity of literature on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in alcohol-dependent subjects and its relation to clinical pattern of ARS in developing countries.

Objective: To study the clinical profile and HRQoL of patients admitted with alcohol-related seizures in a tertiary care center.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients admitted with new onset ARS (from July 2014 to February 2016) were included. Patients with previous diagnosis of epilepsy, with other provoking causes and those not consenting were excluded. Details of drinking pattern were analyzed. Alcohol dependence was identified by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), score more than 8 was taken as positive. HRQOL was assessed by Life Situation Survey (LSS) questionnaire. A video electroencephalography and CT brain (MRI in focal seizures) was done in all patients.

Results: Of the 124 study subjects, all were males. Mean age of the sample was 32.84 years (±6.37 years). The average daily consumption was 176 g (±140 g). Mean duration of alcohol intake was 17.24 years (±5.24 years). Nineteen (15.3%) patients had a family history of seizure. In focal seizures, MRI revealed symptomatic lesions in three patients. Occurrence of multiple seizures correlated with higher AUDIT scores. Patients with LSS score < 80 had significantly higher AUDIT score and longer duration of alcohol intake (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: A protocol-based evaluation of ARS is necessary, to identify etiologies other than withdrawal. MRI brain is useful in focal onset ARS, to identify underlying symptomatic lesions (33.3% of partial seizures). Patients with higher AUDIT scores are more likely to have multiple seizures and a poorer HRQOL.