The prevalence of certain comorbidities is higher in people with narcolepsy compared with matched controls—both at diagnosis and at prolonged follow up.

Comorbidities that are more prevalent in patients with narcolepsy include psychiatric and sleep conditions, as well as cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions.

Hypocretin (orexin) dysfunction in patients with narcolepsy may partially explain the increased risk of certain comorbidities in these patients.

An increased prevalence of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia have been reported in people with narcolepsy compared with matched controls. One interview study of 320 patients with narcolepsy and 1,464 age-matched individuals from the general population identified that the odds of heart disease in patients with narcolepsy (5.9%) were twice that compared to the age-matched general population (2.9%) (AOR, 2.07 [95% CI, 1.22 to 3.51]). By an average age of 38 (mean age during study), an increased incidence of cardiovascular comorbidities has been observed among patients with narcolepsy compared with matched non-narcolepsy controls.

This episode is produced by Sleep Review and is episode 4 of a 5-part series sponsored by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

Visit Jazzpharma.com and NarcolepsyLink.com for more information. In episode 4, listen as Sleep Review’s Sree Roy and cardiologist-sleep specialist-intensivist Younghoon Kwon, MD, MS, FACC, discuss:

• Narcolepsy is linked with multiple cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. Can you inform our audience to any of the specifics of the cardiovascular burden among patients with narcolepsy?
• Why is it that patients with narcolepsy commonly present with cardiovascular comorbidities? Is there a potential mechanistic link between narcolepsy and these conditions?
• Does sleep disruption itself impact cardiovascular risk? If so, what is the evidence for the connection between sleep disruption that's a hallmark of narcolepsy and increased cardiovascular risk?
• How do you balance narcolepsy management with the management of cardiovascular health factors, both in terms of lifestyle and pharmacotherapy?
• Are there any published studies about narcolepsy and cardiovascular risk that you'd recommend for additional information?