[Accidents prevalence in a group of patients with the narcolepsy- cataplexy syndrome].

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies have shown statistically that the proportion of accidents at work, at home and on the roads is greater in narcoleptic patients than in the general population.

OBJECTIVE

The object of this study is to show the high prevalence of the risk of accidents in patients diagnosed as having the narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We studied a group of 35 patients of both sexes, diagnosed in the Sleep Pathology Unit of our hospital between 1994 and 1998 as having the narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome. They filled out a questionnaire to find the prevalence of accidents. The data obtained regarding the type and number of accidents, their causes, gravity, legal and economic consequences were compared with those obtained in a group of 25 healthy subjects using the chi squared test.

RESULTS

The results showed a higher risk of accidents in narcoleptic as compared with normal persons, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown the greater risk of accidents in these patients and the need for diagnosis as soon as possible so as to establish suitable treatment and thus improve their own personal safety and that of those around them.