Risk factors for early disability pension in patients with epilepsy and vocational difficulties - Data from a specialized rehabilitation unit

- Risk factors for early disability pension (EDP) were evaluated using multivariate analysis.
- 2.5 years after discharge from a rehabilitation program, 33.7% of 246 patients received an EDP.
- Higher age, application for EDP, long sickness absence, and psychiatric comorbidity were risk factors.
- Epilepsy-related variables were of minor importance.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors for early disability pension (EDP) in adult patients with epilepsy in a specialized epilepsy rehabilitation setting.MethodsIn a retrospective study, 246 patients with epilepsy and employment difficulties leading to referral to an inpatient rehabilitation unit were evaluated with a questionnaire on admission and after a mean of 2.5 years after discharge. Patients already receiving EDP at baseline were excluded. Epilepsy-related, demographic, and employment-related data as well as cognitive functioning and psychiatric comorbidity were assessed as risk factors for EDP at follow-up and analyzed using logistic regression models.ResultsSeventy-six percent of the patients had uncontrolled epilepsy, and 66.7% had psychiatric comorbidity. At follow-up, 33.7% received an EDP. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, age > 50 years (odds ratio (OR) 5.44, compared to age < 30 years), application for an EDP prior to admission (OR 3.7), sickness absence > 3 months in the previous year (OR 3.30, compared to sickness absence < 3 months), and psychiatric comorbidity (OR 2.79) were significant risk factors for an EDP at follow-up, while epilepsy-related factors and cognitive impairment showed an effect only in the univariate analyses.ConclusionsPotential risk factors for EDP in patients with epilepsy were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Knowledge of such factors may help to develop appropriate criteria for rehabilitation candidacy and interventions to reduce the risk for EDP. This might lead to an amelioration of both psychosocial burden of patients and economic burden on society.