Narcolepsy with cataplexy: Does age at diagnosis change the clinical picture?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare symptoms and sleep characteristics in patients diagnosed with narcolepsy-cataplexy (NC) before and after the age of 18 years.

Methods

De novo patients with NC diagnosis completed a standardized questionnaire and interview, followed by a sleep study. The clinical and sleep measures were compared between patients diagnosed before (46 children, median age: 12 year old) and after (46 adults, median age: 28.5 year old) 18 years of age.

Results

The frequency of obesity (54% vs 17%), night eating (29% vs 7%), parasomnia (89% vs 43%), sleep talking (80% vs 34%), and sleep drunkenness (69% vs 24%) were higher in children than in adults, the frequency of sleep paralysis was lower (20% vs 55%) but the frequency of cataplexy and the severity of sleepiness wer

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7539846 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature