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Impact of obesity in children with narcolepsy

Clara Odilia Inocente1, Sophie Lavault, Michel Lecendreux

  • 1Integrative Physiology of Brain Arousal System, CRNL, University Lyon 1, Lyon, France.

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
|April 12, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Obese children with narcolepsy experience earlier disease onset and poorer sleep quality, impacting their school attendance. This study highlights the significant negative effects of obesity in pediatric narcolepsy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting sleep-wake cycles.
  • Obesity is increasingly prevalent in pediatric populations and may influence disease presentation.
  • Understanding the interplay between obesity and narcolepsy in children is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of obesity on clinical and sleep characteristics in children diagnosed with narcolepsy.
  • To compare obese versus non-obese children with narcolepsy regarding disease onset, symptoms, and sleep quality.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of data from 117 children diagnosed with idiopathic narcolepsy between 2008-2011.
  • Comparison of clinical and electrophysiological characteristics between obese (BMI > P97) and non-obese children.
  • Assessment of sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep efficiency, and respiratory parameters.

Main Results:

  • Obesity was present in 60% of the narcoleptic children, with earlier onset of sleepiness and cataplexy observed in obese individuals.
  • Obese children exhibited lower sleep efficiency and higher apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory arousal index (RAI).
  • Higher BMI z-score correlated positively with RAI, and obese children reported increased fatigue and school absenteeism.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity is highly prevalent in pediatric narcolepsy, affecting over half of the studied population.
  • Obesity is associated with earlier disease onset and significantly impaired sleep quality in narcoleptic children.
  • The findings underscore the detrimental effects of obesity on sleep, daytime functioning, and academic attendance in children with narcolepsy.
Abstract

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