24.01.2025

A new study conducted by researchers at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University reveals that individuals with epilepsy lose an average of 6.6 years in the workforce compared to the general population. This is largely attributed to a higher prevalence of early retirement due to disability and a disproportionate risk of early death. The findings have been published in the scientific journal Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Epilepsy and Comorbid Mental Illness Linked to Greater Loss of Working Years

Professor Jakob Christensen and senior researcher Julie Werenberg Dreier reveals that epilepsy is associated with an average loss of 6.6 working years

The study, based on registry data from more than 5 million working-age individuals in Denmark from 1995 to 2018, also highlights that people with both epilepsy and mental illness experience significantly greater losses in working years. Factors such as gender and age at epilepsy onset were also found to play a critical role.

"Individuals with epilepsy and comorbid mental illness lose an average of 14.5 working years compared to the general population, and men generally lose more working years than women," says senior researcher Julie Werenberg Dreier from The National Centre for Register-based Research (NCRR) at Aarhus University.

"Early-onset epilepsy further exacerbates the loss of working years. People diagnosed before the age of 20 lose an average of 11.5 working years. However, it is important to consider that individuals diagnosed early in life have more potential working years to lose compared to those diagnosed at age 50 or 60," Julie Werenberg Dreier adds.

The study also shows that individuals with secondary epilepsy - caused by factors such as birth complications, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumors - lose an average of 9.0 working years, compared to 5.4 years for those with epilepsy of unknown cause. Notably, the number of lost working years for individuals with epilepsy has decreased since 1995, potentially due to stricter criteria for granting disability pension and an increased use of flexible employment schemes.

Need for Targeted Interventions

The findings underscore the need for initiatives to address the substantial loss of working years experienced by many individuals with epilepsy, particularly those with coexisting mental health conditions.

"The results highlight the importance of improving support for individuals with epilepsy to help them maintain their attachment to the labor market," says Jakob Christensen, a consultant neurologist at Aarhus University Hospital and professor at Aarhus University.

"Loss of working years is a significant issue for people with epilepsy, and it is crucial to focus on interventions that can reduce this impact. The newly issued recommendations from the Danish Health Authority for cross-sectoral care pathways for individuals with epilepsy are a step in the right direction. These recommendations aim to ensure coordinated care, enhance knowledge sharing across hospitals, municipalities, workplaces, and educational institutions, and ultimately improve outcomes," Jakob Christensen emphasizes.

About the Research

Key Findings

  • Epilepsy is associated with an average loss of 6.6 working years.
  • Coexisting mental illness increases the loss to an average of 14.5 years.
  • The study is based on registry data from 5,466,140 individuals, including 74,980 (1.4%) diagnosed with epilepsy.

 

Study Type: Population-based cohort study.
Collaborators: Departments of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital; Department of Clinical Medicine, Center for Register Research (NCRR); and Center for Integrated Register-based Research (CIRRAU) at Aarhus University.
Funding: Independent Research Fund Denmark (1133-00026B and 4253-00007B), Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF16OC0019126 and NNF22OC0075033), Lundbeck Foundation (R400-2022-1205), Region Midtjylland, and the Danish Epilepsy Association.
Conflict of Interest: Jakob Christensen has received honoraria from UCB Nordic and Eisai AB for advisory roles and lectures, as well as travel funding from UCB Nordic.

 

Read the Scientific Article

Dreier JW, Trabjerg BB, Lolk K, Plana-Ripoll O, & Christensen J. Working years lost in people with epilepsy: a population-based cohort study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Published Online First: 24 January 2025. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-335220

 

Further Information

Jakob Christensen
Consultant Neurologist, Aarhus University Hospital
Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University
Tel: +45 6086 5899
Email: jakob@farm.au.dk

Julie Werenberg Dreier
Senior Researcher, The National Centre for Register-based Research (NCRR), Aarhus University
Tel: +45 2562 1178
Email: jwdreier.ncrr@au.dk