VIDEO: Higher odds of comorbidities in those with idiopathic hypersomnia

DENVER — Patients with idiopathic hypersomnia have higher odds of comorbidities both related and unrelated to sleep, Jed Black, MD, says in this Healio video from the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.

“Idiopathic hypersomnia is a disorder that is identified by severe pathological daytime sleepiness and associated symptoms that cause tremendous disability,” said Black, of the Stanford University Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, told Healio.

Black and colleagues analyzed Merative MarketScan claims between December 2013 and February 2020 with an index period of December 2014 to March 2019 of 11,412 individuals with idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and 57,058 matched controls.

Results showed that those with IH had higher odds of comorbidities including neoplasms and nervous system diseases compared with non-IH controls.

Additionally, odds of comorbidities involving sleep disorders such as sleep and rapid eye movement behavior disorder were elevated compared with matched non-IH controls.

Data further showed that individuals with IH had higher odds of comorbid cardiovascular conditions, including stroke, major adverse cardiovascular events along with an elevated risk and history of cardiovascular disease.

“We didn’t expect to see this same profile in idiopathic hypersomnia of a high rate of comorbidity,” Black said. “We have no understanding of the cause, but it could be due to the effects of this condition on sleep itself.”