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Review Article
Online Published: 29 Jan 2026
 


Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy

Mohammed Y. Almohaimeed, Mohammed Alqwaifly, Almuqbil A. Abdulmohsen, Moayed A. Allahim, Abdulmajeed A. Alfouzan, Mazen A. S. Almohaimeed, Yamin M. Alrobaee, Tarek M. M. Alharbi, Majed F. A. Alharbi, Christopher G. Nixon.


Abstract
Quality of life (QoL) is a fundamental, yet frequently neglected, outcome measure in the treatment of persons with epilepsy, as the primary clinical goal is often focused on achieving a seizure-free state. While antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the mainstay of epilepsy management, a debate persists regarding whether newer-generation AEDs confer greater improvements in health-related QoL (HRQoL) compared to older agents. A systematic review was conducted to compare HRQoL scores between new and old AEDs in persons with epilepsy. A systematic search was conducted across six databases for studies that compared HRQoL, primarily measured using the QOLIE-31 or QOLIE-89 instruments, in epilepsy patients treated with a new AED versus an old AED. Twenty-one studies, encompassing a total of 4,700 participants, indicated that newer AEDs were associated with significantly better outcomes in overall HRQoL [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.46; p < 0.001]. Significant benefits were also observed in specific domains, most notably in cognitive functioning (SMD = 0.45) and emotional well-being (SMD = 0.38). Specific agents, such as lamotrigine (mean HRQoL score 72.1) and levetiracetam (mean 69.8), demonstrated superior performance compared to older agents like phenytoin (mean 59.8). Furthermore, monotherapy was associated with improved HRQoL outcomes over polytherapy (SMD = 0.41; p < 0.001), while adverse events had a more pronounced negative impact on scores with older AEDs (β = −0.52; p < 0.001). It was concluded that newer AEDs achieved better improvements in HRQoL, particularly in the cognitive and emotional domains.

Key words: health-related quality of life, HRQoL scores, antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy, systematic review


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Almohaimeed MY, Alqwaifly M, Abdulmohsen AA, Allahim MA, Alfouzan AA, Almohaimeed MAS, Alrobaee YM, Alharbi TMM, Alharbi MFA, Nixon CG. Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. IJMDC. 2026; 10(2): 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144

Web Style

Almohaimeed MY, Alqwaifly M, Abdulmohsen AA, Allahim MA, Alfouzan AA, Almohaimeed MAS, Alrobaee YM, Alharbi TMM, Alharbi MFA, Nixon CG. Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=307255 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Almohaimeed MY, Alqwaifly M, Abdulmohsen AA, Allahim MA, Alfouzan AA, Almohaimeed MAS, Alrobaee YM, Alharbi TMM, Alharbi MFA, Nixon CG. Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. IJMDC. 2026; 10(2): 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Almohaimeed MY, Alqwaifly M, Abdulmohsen AA, Allahim MA, Alfouzan AA, Almohaimeed MAS, Alrobaee YM, Alharbi TMM, Alharbi MFA, Nixon CG. Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. IJMDC. (2026), [cited June 27, 2026]; 10(2): 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


Harvard Style

Almohaimeed, M. Y., Alqwaifly, . M., Abdulmohsen, . A. A., Allahim, . M. A., Alfouzan, . A. A., Almohaimeed, . M. A. S., Alrobaee, . Y. M., Alharbi, . T. M. M., Alharbi, . M. F. A. & Nixon, . C. G. (2026) Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. IJMDC, 10 (2), 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


Turabian Style

Almohaimeed, Mohammed Y., Mohammed Alqwaifly, Almuqbil A. Abdulmohsen, Moayed A. Allahim, Abdulmajeed A. Alfouzan, Mazen A. S. Almohaimeed, Yamin M. Alrobaee, Tarek M. M. Alharbi, Majed F. A. Alharbi, and Christopher G. Nixon. 2026. Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (2), 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


Chicago Style

Almohaimeed, Mohammed Y., Mohammed Alqwaifly, Almuqbil A. Abdulmohsen, Moayed A. Allahim, Abdulmajeed A. Alfouzan, Mazen A. S. Almohaimeed, Yamin M. Alrobaee, Tarek M. M. Alharbi, Majed F. A. Alharbi, and Christopher G. Nixon. "Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Almohaimeed, Mohammed Y., Mohammed Alqwaifly, Almuqbil A. Abdulmohsen, Moayed A. Allahim, Abdulmajeed A. Alfouzan, Mazen A. S. Almohaimeed, Yamin M. Alrobaee, Tarek M. M. Alharbi, Majed F. A. Alharbi, and Christopher G. Nixon. "Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.2 (2026), 855-864. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Almohaimeed, M. Y., Alqwaifly, . M., Abdulmohsen, . A. A., Allahim, . M. A., Alfouzan, . A. A., Almohaimeed, . M. A. S., Alrobaee, . Y. M., Alharbi, . T. M. M., Alharbi, . M. F. A. & Nixon, . C. G. (2026) Comparing the health-related quality of life scores between new and old antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (2), 855-864. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1768756144




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