Health-related quality of life among drug-naïve patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the health-related quality life (HRQOL) of drug-naïve patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy (NAwith CA), narcolepsy without cataplexy (NA without CA) and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time (IHS without LST), and to explore the factors influencing the HRQOL. Factors associated with the occurrence of automobile accidents are also discussed.

METHODS

A total of 137 consecutive drug naïve patients who met the criteria of the 2nd edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (NA with CA, n = 28; NA without CA, n = 27; IHS without LST, n = 82) were enrolled. The patients were asked to fill out questionnaires, including the SF-36, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), sociodemographic variables, and items regarding driving habits and the experiences related to automobile accidents.

RESULTS

All 3 diagnostic groups had significantly lower scores in most SF-36 domains compared with Japanese normative data. Significant differences among the 3 diagnostic groups were not observed. Specific factors in SF-36 domains were not found with multiple linear regression analyses, while disease duration was positively correlated with mental health among all subjects. Among the patients reporting driving habits, ESS score (> or =16) was positively associated with the experience of automobile accidents.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that HRQOL decreases in drug-naïve patients with hypersomnia, but neither disease category nor severity of the disorder appears as an associated factor. Increased severity of hypersomnia, however, was thought to play an important role in the occurrence of automobile accidents.