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Medical specialty visits and diagnoses received by Saudi patients prior to a diagnosis of narcolepsy

  • Neurology • Original Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Narcolepsy is an uncommon neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and multiple other symptoms. Due to the under-recognition of narcolepsy symptoms, patients are often misdiagnosed. This study aimed to assess the types of specialties visited and the diagnoses received by Saudi patients prior to their narcolepsy diagnosis.

Methods

The study included 55 consecutive patients with type-1 and type-2 narcolepsy who attended the narcolepsy clinic between August 2017 and December 2017. Narcolepsy was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders–third edition criteria. We evaluated sociodemographic data, the specialties visited, and diagnoses and treatments received prior to visiting a sleep specialist.

Results

The mean diagnostic delay was 9.1 ± 8.4 years (1–43 years). Multiple linear regression analysis identified early onset as the only predictor of a delayed diagnosis (β coefficient = − 0.262, p = 0.03). EDS was the main symptom that prompted patients to seek medical consultation, and only one patient had been (1.8%) referred with the diagnosis of narcolepsy. In the study group, 82% of the patients were misdiagnosed with a mental or neurological disorder or were thought to be afflicted by “envy,” “evil eye,” or “black magic” before receiving a correct diagnosis. No significant differences were detected between patients with narcolepsy type-1 and narcolepsy type-2.

Conclusions

Delays in diagnosing narcolepsy remain a major problem for Saudi patients with this disorder. We found that Saudi patients with narcolepsy had visited several medical specialists and faith healers and were misdiagnosed prior to visiting a sleep specialist.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following medical students who participated in the data collection: Raghda Sufian AlQassim, Sara Saad AlKhalifa, and Samar Musleh AlOtaibi.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the College of Medicine Research Center, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University Project, Saudi Arabia. The grant was obtained by Prof. Ahmed S. BaHammam. The study sponsors played no role in the study design; collection, analysis or interpretation of the data; writing of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, The University Sleep Disorders Center, King Saud University, Box 225503, Riyadh, 11324, Saudi Arabia

    Aljohara S. Almeneessier, Sara Al-Jebrin, Reem Labani, Hussain Alkaff, Omar Al-Rahbeeni, Musab Alageel, Awad Olaish & Ahmed S. BaHammam

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  1. Aljohara S. Almeneessier
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  2. Sara Al-Jebrin
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  8. Ahmed S. BaHammam
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Correspondence to Ahmed S. BaHammam.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the College of Medicine, King Saud University.

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Almeneessier, A.S., Al-Jebrin, S., Labani, R. et al. Medical specialty visits and diagnoses received by Saudi patients prior to a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Sleep Breath 23, 603–609 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-019-01807-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-019-01807-5

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