Epilepsy and work: the relationship

THESES

EPILEPSY AND WORK: THE RELATIONSHIP (ABSTRACT)^*. DISSERTATION. SÃO JOSÉ DO RIO PRETO, 1997.

MOACIR ALVES BORGES^**

The present dissertation is a prospective study which evaluates 145 epileptic out patients from HB ambulatory of a medical school. A control group (CG) of 100 healthy volunteers were matched for similar age, sex and zip code area to compare the two groups. The mean age of both groups at testing were 35.32 years, with a range of 14- 65 and composed by 50% men. The results are showed below:

Statistical analysis: To detect any differences between these two groups t Student, chi-squared and limits of confidence intervals (95% Cl) were carried out. Significant level was p < 0.05.

- general-working epileptic population (both sexes) was 67.59%; similar to 76% of CG, although men working, 24.14%, was lower than women, 43.45%;

- paid-working epileptic population was 40%; lower than the CG, 62%, although men was 35.71%; higher than women, 23.46%;

- formal-working epileptic population was 24.14%; lower than CG, 36%; although the men was 37. 93%, higher than women, 22.41%;

- retired epileptic population was 17.24%; higher than the CG, 2%; retired men, 76%; higher than women, 24%;

- unemployed epileptic population was 15.17%; similar to the CG, 22%; similar range between men and women; that is: 54.54% and 45.46% respectively.

Epileptic crisis frequencies have not influenced the work of population as it is showed below:

- paid-works population: weekly, 32.75%; monthly 27.58% and yearly crisis, 39.65%;

- unemployed population: weekly, 37.83%; monthly 29.72% and yearly crises, 33.43%.

Epilepsy is not disadvantageous to general work , considering the non-paid housework service by women, although it is disadvantageous to the paid-salary work, similar to Jacoby, 1995 and Scambler & Hopkins, 1980 findings. Epilepsy increases the number of retired population compared to the CG, as so, decreasing people unemployed rate. The seizure frequency has not influenced the number of working population, differently as observed by Jacoby et al., 1996. The number of unemployed was not affected by the crisis frequency, the same as proposed by the mentioned authors.

This study may allow professionals and public health care who have been concerning to epilepsy to make a reflection about the relation between the epileptic inherent matters and the insertion of this population in the work environment and also compare the literature findings.

KEY WORDS: epilepsy, working, unemployment, retired, sex.

**Address: Av. Faria Lima 5622, 15090-000 São José do Rio Preto SP, Brasil. FAX [phone].

*

Epilepsia e sua relação com trabalho (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (Área: Medicina Interna). Orientadora: Emirene M. T. Navarro da Cruz.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Nov 2000
• Date of issue
  June 1998