Clinical and Socioeconomic Burden Among People With Narcolepsy or Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Objective/Background
To assess the clinical and socioeconomic burden of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) in Denmark.
Patients/Methods
This retrospective cohort study using Danish National Patient Registry data included individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy or IH (1/1/2005–12/31/2017). Individuals with narcolepsy were matched 1:4 with controls without narcolepsy; matching was repeated for individuals with IH. Comorbidities, employment, income, and healthcare costs were assessed in the 3 years before and after diagnosis using logistic regression and generalized linear models.
Results
1183 individuals with narcolepsy (4728 controls) and 1801 individuals with IH (7204 controls) were assessed. Before diagnosis, individuals with narcolepsy had higher odds (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of having nervous system (7.92 [6.46, 9.71]) or circulatory system diseases (2.45 [1.95, 3.07]) than controls, in addition to higher unemployment (2.30 [1.79, 2.96]). Individuals with narcolepsy had lower mean income before (€22,076 vs €26,538) and after (€21,786 vs €27,090) diagnosis and higher mean healthcare costs before (€4547 vs €1909) and after (€7411 vs €2178) diagnosis. Before diagnosis, individuals with IH had higher odds (OR [95% CI]) of having nervous system (9.37 [7.93, 11.08]) or circulatory system diseases (1.80 [1.49, 2.16]) than controls, in addition to higher unemployment (1.73 [1.42, 2.10]). Individuals with IH had lower mean income before (€31,947 vs €34,503) and after (€30,262 vs €35,139) diagnosis and higher mean healthcare costs before (€4050 vs €1840) and after (€5124 vs €2106) diagnosis.
Conclusions
Danish individuals with narcolepsy or IH had a greater clinical and socioeconomic burden than controls.