Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Antiepileptic drug nonadherence in children with epilepsy: Outcomes and potential intervention

Antiepileptic drug nonadherence in children with epilepsy: Outcomes and potential intervention
Neurology recent issues

Currently, no cure is available for many children with epilepsy, and the most frequently used treatment for seizures is antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Since 20% to 30% of children with epilepsy experience seizures that are not completely controlled with treatment,1 it is imperative that these children achieve and maintain adherence to prescribed treatment to have the best possible health outcomes. Studies have consistently shown that nonadherence is related to increased health care utilization.2 However, adherence rates in children with epilepsy, even within the first month of AED initiation, are not ideal.3 Modi et al.4 previously found that 58% of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy exhibited nonadherence over the first 6 months of AED therapy, and they identified 4 nonadherent trajectories: severe early, severe delayed, moderate, and mild, in addition to a near perfect trajectory.



Original Article: http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/short/82/8/652?rss=1

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