COST OF ILLNESS OF EPILEPSY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING ADULT OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR REFERRAL HOSPITAL, NORTH WEST

Abstract

Abstract Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders that affect approximately 50 million people of all ages and socio-economic classes worldwide. Epilepsy has a significant economic implication in terms of health care needs, premature death and lost work productivity. Studies have shown that developing countries carry 90% of the financial burden of epilepsy. Therefore it is important to assess the economic burden of epilepsy and identify factors affecting it. Objective: To assess cost of illness of epilepsy and associated factors among patients attending adult outpatient department of University of Gondar referral hospital, 2018. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from March 2018 – April 2018. A total of 442 adult epileptic patients were selected from chronic follow up clinic using systematic sampling technique and interviewed using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. The data were entered to EPI INFO 7, processed and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Proportions, rates and summary statistics such as mean, standard deviation were calculated for most variables. Logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors and variables in multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered significant using P<0.05 and confidence interval. Result: A total of 422 epileptic patients were participated in the study with response rate of 95%. In this study the mean total cost of epilepsy per patient per year was 4478 birr Conclusion and Recommendation: The economic prospects of individuals with epilepsy and their families can be heavily inspected and Cost of epilepsy was affected by Age, sex, educational status, number of AED, seizure frequency, Place where patients buy anti epileptic drugs and disease duration. To minimize cost of illness of epilepsy availing mobile clinic and collaboration in the planning and implementation for prevention of epileptic seizures is needed. Key words: cost of illness, epilepsy, Gondar University Referral Hospital, North West Ethiopia