The need for quicker and more accurate Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) diagnoses was highlighted today in a European real-world study presented at the 15th European Epilepsy Congress using data from the Adelphi LGS Disease Specific Programme™ (DSP). Data from 454 pediatric and adult LGS patients across Europe reported it takes on average 12.3 months to receive a correct LGS diagnosis, following the first seizure at 4 years old (mean average age), exposing the lengthy wait patients and their families face for a correct diagnosis in Europe.[1]
Despite patients receiving more than three (3.4) antiseizure medications on average each day, ongoing challenges in effectively treating LGS remain[1]:
71% of patients (N=324/454) experienced at least 1 concomitant comorbidity, with the most frequently reported including psychomotor or cognitive impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep disorder or insomnia
19% and 28% of patients experienced severe or very severe physical and mental impairment, respectively, many of which persist with age
47% of patients were reported to have at least somewhat poor quality of life
Daytime seizures were reported to have the greatest impact on quality of life for 39% of patients
These findings underline the need for new treatments that can target both drug-resistant seizures and the non-seizure symptoms of LGS.
