Berit Hjelde Hansen1, Hilde T Juvodden2, Sebjørg Hesla Nordstrand3, Rannveig Viste2, Per M Thorsby4, David Swanson5, Kristian B Nilsen6, Terje Nærland2, Stine Knudsen-Heier7. 1. Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Department of Rare Disorders, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: bihn@ous-hf.no. 2. Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Department of Rare Disorders, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. 3. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål Hospital, Norway. 4. Hormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 5. Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. 6. Department of Neurology, Section for Clinical Neurophysiology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål Hospital, Norway. 7. Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Department of Rare Disorders, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To characterize attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in unmedicated post-H1N1 narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) youths, and explore associations between ADHD symptoms and the narcolepsy phenotype. METHODS: A total of 50 consecutively enrolled post-H1N1 NT1 youths (7-20 years, 62% females, 98% HLA-DQB1∗06:02-positive, 98% CSF hypocretin-1 deficient, 88% vaccinated) were assessed after two weeks off medication for ADHD (ADHD diagnosis pre/post-narcolepsy, parent-rated ADHD symptoms) and narcolepsy-phenotyped (semi-structured interview, Stanford Sleep Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, polysomnography (PSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)). RESULTS: In sum, 26 (52%) and 15 (30%) of participants had ADHD symptoms above and below the clinical significant cut-off, respectively, while 9 (18%) had no ADHD symptoms. High values were found for ADHD total score (mean (SD), 17.9 (9.5)) and ADHD subscores (inattentive score, 11.0 (6.3); hyperactive/impulsivity score, 6.9 (4.7)). These were significantly higher than previously reported in a mainly medicated narcolepsy cohort (p < 0.0001). Age, gender and disease duration did not influence scores. Two participants (4%) had ADHD diagnosis prior to narcolepsy onset. ADHD symptoms were correlated with parent-rated, but not with patient rated ESS scores, objective sleepiness (mean sleep latency), sleep fragmentation (sleep stage shift index, awakening index), or CSF hypocretin-1 level. CONCLUSION: Comorbid ADHD symptoms were more prevalent in unmedicated post-H1N1 NT1 youths than previously reported in mainly medicated pediatric narcolepsy cohorts. The high prevalence was not due to pre-existing ADHD and generally not correlated with core narcolepsy sleep/wake phenotype characteristics, indicating that the ADHD symptoms were not a direct consequence of disturbed sleep or daytime sleepiness.
OBJECTIVES: To characterize attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in unmedicated post-H1N1narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) youths, and explore associations between ADHD symptoms and the narcolepsy phenotype. METHODS: A total of 50 consecutively enrolled post-H1N1 NT1 youths (7-20 years, 62% females, 98% HLA-DQB1∗06:02-positive, 98% CSF hypocretin-1 deficient, 88% vaccinated) were assessed after two weeks off medication for ADHD (ADHD diagnosis pre/post-narcolepsy, parent-rated ADHD symptoms) and narcolepsy-phenotyped (semi-structured interview, Stanford Sleep Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, polysomnography (PSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)). RESULTS: In sum, 26 (52%) and 15 (30%) of participants had ADHD symptoms above and below the clinical significant cut-off, respectively, while 9 (18%) had no ADHD symptoms. High values were found for ADHD total score (mean (SD), 17.9 (9.5)) and ADHD subscores (inattentive score, 11.0 (6.3); hyperactive/impulsivity score, 6.9 (4.7)). These were significantly higher than previously reported in a mainly medicated narcolepsy cohort (p < 0.0001). Age, gender and disease duration did not influence scores. Two participants (4%) had ADHD diagnosis prior to narcolepsy onset. ADHD symptoms were correlated with parent-rated, but not with patient rated ESS scores, objective sleepiness (mean sleep latency), sleep fragmentation (sleep stage shift index, awakening index), or CSF hypocretin-1 level. CONCLUSION: Comorbid ADHD symptoms were more prevalent in unmedicated post-H1N1 NT1 youths than previously reported in mainly medicated pediatric narcolepsy cohorts. The high prevalence was not due to pre-existing ADHD and generally not correlated with core narcolepsy sleep/wake phenotype characteristics, indicating that the ADHD symptoms were not a direct consequence of disturbed sleep or daytime sleepiness.