Abstract Details

Title Antiseizure drugs adherence in elderly patients with epilepsy

Topic Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 10-003

Background Lack of therapeutic adherence is a problem of great impact around the world, with greater prevalence in patients with chronic diseases, as occurs in epilepsy. Around 30 to 50% of patients with epilepsy show poor adherence to prescribed anti seizure medication.

Objective Our goal was to determine the degree of adherence to anti seizure medication and to identify the factors associated with low therapeutic adherence in elderly epileptic patients.

Design/Methods

An ambispective study of elderly epileptic patients follow-up from January 2018 to June 2021. Sociodemographic variables related to epilepsy and its treatment were analyzed. Data were obtained from an electronic prescription database. As a measure of adherence, the medication possession ratio (MPR) and proportion of days covered (PDC) were calculated. Adherence was defined as an MPR and / or PDC greater than 80% and favorable clinical outcome was defined as being seizures free for at least 1 year. A brief telephone survey was carried out with the objective of detecting the factors that modified the therapeutic adherence.

Results

Of the 327 patients included, 116 answered the questionnaire. The mean age was 76.4 years (SD 6.9), 78 (67.2%) were women. Focal epilepsy was observed in 67 patients (57.8%). The most prescribed anti seizure medication was lamotrigine 48 (41%), followed by levetiracetam 40 (34.5%). In 85 (73.3%) patients, adherence to treatment was observed. A favorable clinical outcome was evidenced in adherent patients (p <0.0001).

Conclusions

The present study showed high therapeutic adherence to anti seizure medication in older adults; which was associated with favorable clinical outcome.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Gisela Zanga	Gisela Zanga has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
	No disclosure on file
Maria M. Esnaola Y Rojas, MD	Dr. Esnaola Y Rojas has nothing to disclose.