Health-Related Quality of Life and Cognitive Performance During 12-Month Adjunctive Brivaracetam Treatment in Patients with Focal-Onset Seizures: A Prospective, Observational Study in Europe

Introduction: This analysis aimed to evaluate patient-related outcomes for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cognitive performance in patients (≥ 16 years) with focal-onset seizures (FOS), with/without focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures, after initiating adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in routine clinical practice. Methods: A 12-month, prospective, real-world, noninterventional study in nine European countries (EP0077/NCT02687711) was performed. BRV was prescribed per clinical practice and the European Summary of Product Characteristics. The outcomes evaluated were the Patient Weighted Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-Form 31 (QOLIE-31-P), the Clinical and the Patient’s Global Impression of Change (CGIC and PGIC, respectively), and EpiTrack ^®. EpiTrack ^® scores were categorized into cognitive performance categories (excellent: ≥ 39 points; average: 32–38 points; mildly impaired: 29–31 points; significantly impaired: ≤ 28 points). The change in EpiTrack ^® score was evaluated [improvement: increase in score of ≥ 4 points; no change: change in score of − 2 to 3 points (inclusive); worsening: change in score of at least − 3 points]. Results: Full Analysis Set: 541 patients. 46.6% of patients reported a clinically meaningful improvement in QOLIE-31-P total score from baseline to 12 months; the mean change in total score was + 6.2 points (N = 103). Per CGIC (N = 142) and PGIC (N = 148), respectively, 69.0% and 62.8% of patients had improved in overall condition at 12 months versus baseline, while 3.5% and 8.1% had worsened. EpiTrack ^® categories at 12 months versus baseline showed improved cognitive performance [baseline (N = 142): significantly impaired 49.3%, mildly impaired 14.8%, average 33.1%, excellent 2.8%; 12 months (N = 61): significantly impaired 36.1%, mildly impaired 4.9%, average 52.5%, excellent 6.6%]. At 12 months, 67.2% of patients showed no significant change from baseline in EpiTrack ^® score, 23.0% had improved, and 9.8% had worsened (N = 61). Conclusion: In patients with predominantly difficult-to-treat FOS, BRV add-on was associated with good HRQoL and cognitive functioning. Cognitive functioning remained stable for 12 months after BRV initiation in most patients; nearly one-quarter experienced significant improvements. At 12 months, 46.6% of patients reported clinically meaningful HRQoL improvements, and most showed an improved overall condition.