Multimorbidity in Adults with Epilepsy: Study Reveals High Prevalence in Outpatient Setting

Strategic Insights -

A recent study on multimorbidity in adults with epilepsy has shed light on the alarming prevalence of chronic disease in this patient group. Conducted by researchers from the Perron Institute, the study aimed to examine the distribution of multimorbidity and describe the contributing comorbidity of somatic and psychiatric chronic conditions in adult patients with epilepsy. The research involved a retrospective cohort study of 330 adult patients with epilepsy seen in an outpatient clinic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The prevalence of multimorbidity was estimated to be nearly 80% among patients with epilepsy seen in an outpatient setting.
  • Over two-thirds of participants had a somatic chronic condition, and over two-fifths had a psychiatric chronic condition.
  • The most common chronic comorbid conditions in patients with epilepsy included depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders were often seen in young adults with epilepsy, those with drug-resistant epilepsy, and/or developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE).
  • The prevalence of multimorbidity did not significantly vary based on sex, drug resistance, or duration of epilepsy.

Statistics:

  • 79.7% of patients with epilepsy seen in an outpatient setting were multimorbid.
  • 69.4% of participants had a somatic chronic condition.
  • 42.4% of participants had a psychiatric chronic condition.
  • The study involved 330 adult patients with epilepsy seen in an outpatient clinic.
  • The most common chronic comorbid conditions in patients with epilepsy included depression (34.5%), anxiety (25.8%), and insomnia (21.2%).

Sources:

  • Multimorbidity in adults with epilepsy attending an outpatient epilepsy clinic. Epilepsy & Behavior, 2025;172:110547.
  • Epilepsy & Behavior can be contacted at: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.
  • Perron Institute, QEII Medical Centre, 8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
  • Katherine Roberts, Tiffany Tennent, Christopher Morrow, and Nikolaos I. Stilianakis.