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Abstract Details

Factors that Affect the Employability of Patients with Epilepsy in Hawaii: A Look at Race, Comorbidities, and Marital Status.
Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)
Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG) Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)
125
Establish the unemployment rate among patients with epilepsy (PWE) in Hawaii and identify key factors that affect employability.
Past studies have demonstrated the elevated unemployment rates among PWE. However, no such study has been completed in Hawaii, which offers unique perspectives on this problem with its diverse population. This study focused on a patient population in Hawaii; looking at factors that affected unemployment among PWE compared to patients with other neurological diagnoses.
A retrospective chart review of 500 PWE and 510 control patients, with other neurological disorders, at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience (HPN) was conducted. Bivariate associations between patients characteristics and epilepsy status were compared using Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. With a subset of PWE excluding retirees, a multivariable logistic regression modeling for being employed was fitted adjusting for levels of epilepsy and other confounding factors.
Unemployment rate was higher in PWE than the control group (45% vs. 21%, p<.001). PWE were also more likely to be single (p<.001), and have a higher number of psychological comorbidities (p<.001). Factors that negatively affected the employability of PWE included having poorly controlled seizures compared to no seizure (Odds Ratio (OR)=0.47, p=.020), being single compared to married (OR=0.30, p<.001), and having diabetes as a comorbidity (OR=0.31, p=.012). Being Asian compared to Caucasian (OR=2.00, p=.046) positively affected the employability of PWE.

Factors that had a significant negative impact on employability: singleness, poorly controlled seizures, and diabetes mellitus should be further explored and steps should be taken to mitigate these factors. It is likely that the same factors that affect whether or not a patient is employed also affect whether or not a patient is married and could potentially explain this correlation.

Authors/Disclosures
Rachel Gorenflo
PRESENTER 		Rachel Gorenflo has nothing to disclose.
No disclosure on file
No disclosure on file
Lindsay Kimball Lindsay Kimball has nothing to disclose.
Masako Matsunaga (University of Hawaii at Manoa) Masako Matsunaga has nothing to disclose.
No disclosure on file
Enrique Carrazana (Neurelis, Inc.) Enrique Carrazana has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Neurelis. Enrique Carrazana has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for Hawaii-Biotech, CND Life Sciences, Apex Labs. Enrique Carrazana has stock in Neurelis, CND, Apex.
Jason Viereck, MD, PhD (Adventist Health Castle Hospital) Dr. Viereck has nothing to disclose.
Kore K. Liow, MD, FACP (University of Hawaii, John Burns School of Medicine) The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from UCB. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Livanova. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Eisai. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Engage Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from SK Lifescience. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Cerevel. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from NeuroDerm. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Avanir. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Annovis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Acadia. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Prothena. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from SAGE. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Annovis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Cyclerion.