Environmental factors in the development of XXXX with cataplexy. A case-control study.

@entity2724 @entity1 @entity166 @entity25
INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies suggest the importance of environmental factors in the etiology of @entity2724 in genetically predisposed subjects. AIM: To assess the role of environmental factors in the development of @entity2724 , using a case-control design with control subjects being matched for ethnicity and age. @entity1 AND METHODS: All @entity1 were recruited through two outpatient clinics at the community of Madrid, ant the diagnosis of @entity2724 fulfilled the criteria of the International Classification on Sleep Disorders-2005. A questionnaire, including 54 environmental psychological stressor life events and 42 @entity166 items, was administered to 54 @entity1 . We specifically assessed the stressful factors and @entity166 that occurred in the year preceding the onset of the first symptom of @entity2724 (excessive @entity25 and/or cataplexy). The same questionnaire was administered to 84 control subjects recruited from non-related family members of the same community. RESULTS: Fifty four @entity1 (55.6% males) answered the questionnaire, The mean age at onset of the first symptom was 21.6    9.3 years, and the mean age at diagnosis was 36.5    12.4 years. The main finding in narcoleptic @entity1 as compared to control subjects was major changes in the 'number of arguments with partner, family, or friends' (odds ratio: 5.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.8-14.5). This can be interpreted as having a protective function and it suggests that psychological mechanisms are present since the beginning of the disease. As for the infectious factors, chickenpox was the most frequently reported. No significant differences were found in terms of total numbers of stress-related and infectious factors between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Prospective studies regarding the interaction between environmental and genetic factors are warranted.
