Brain Behav. 2026 Jul;16(7):e71573. doi: 10.1002/brb3.71573.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Knowledge level about sleep quality and cardiovascular disease risk factors in people with epilepsy is an important but insufficiently researched area.
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge level about cardiovascular disease risk factors and the sleep quality of people with epilepsy. This descriptive study was conducted between January and April 2024 with 303 individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. Data were collected using the Individual Descriptive Characteristics Form, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale (CARRF-KL), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc tests correlation, and linear regression analyses were used in the data analysis.
RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 41.84 ± 11.92, 80.2% having been diagnosed with epilepsy for more than 10 years, and 86.8% diagnosed with generalized epilepsy. The mean CARRF-KL total score of people with epilepsy was 19.40 ± 3.09, and their knowledge level was above average. The mean total score of PSQI was 6.44 ± 4.32, suggesting poor sleep quality. The total score of cardiovascular disease risk factors knowledge level of individuals diagnosed with epilepsy differed according to gender, marital status, epilepsy type, and presence of additional chronic diseases (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Half of the people with epilepsy had poor sleep quality. Knowledge level of cardiovascular disease risk factors was above average.
PMID:42418509 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.71573