A 10-Year Longitudinal Observational Study Of Cataplexy In A Cohort Of Narcolepsy Type 1 Patients

Aljohara S Almeneessier,1,2 Nouf S Alballa,1 Budoor H Alsalman,1 Salih Aleissi,1 Awad H Olaish,1 Ahmed S BaHammam1 1Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, the University Sleep Disorders Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ahmed S BaHammam; Aljohara S AlmeneessierSleep Disorders Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Box 225503, Riyadh 11324, Saudi ArabiaTel +966-11-467-9495Fax +966-11-467-9179Email ashammam2@gmail.com; aljoharas@yahoo.comPurpose: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is thought to have a chronic persistent course. This study aimed to assess the natural course of cataplexy in patients with NT1 at 2, 6, and 10 years after stabilizing symptoms. Other secondary objectives included assessing sleep quality, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities at recruitment and 10 years later.Patients and methods: Cataplexy symptoms, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), sleep quality (assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI]), BMI, and comorbid conditions were prospectively monitored in 38 patients with NT1. The study sample comprised 38 patients with narcolepsy (males=27). The mean ages at disease onset and recruitment were 17.7 ± 5.6 years and 24.3 ± 8.6 years, respectively.Results: In 42% of the cohort, the anti-cataplectic medications were stopped at the end of the study without disturbing symptoms of cataplexy. Additionally, there was an apparent significant reduction in the frequency of cataplexy over time. The mean ESS score decreased by more than 4 points from 19.4 ± 2.9 to 15 ± 4.3 (p