Academic and socio-professional trajectories in narcolepsy type 1: the NARCOSCOL-NARCOVITAE multicentric study

Background and objectives Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a chronic, disabling neurological disease. Sleep-related symptoms and comorbidities such as psycho-cognitive disturbances, and a frequent childhood onset of the disease may negatively impact patients’ career. We conducted a multicentric comparative cross-sectional study in Reference/Competence Centers for Narcolepsy in France to investigate the educational and occupational paths of patients with NT1. Methods Between February 2020 and 2023, adult patients with NT1 regularly followed-up in the participating centers were invited to complete online questionnaires including the Epworth sleepiness Scale, Narcolepsy Severity Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II, Siegrist questionnaire, Adult Self-Report and Adult Behavior Checklist, and a customized questionnaire on academic and professional trajectories. Controls were selected from within the patients’ close circle. Comparisons were adjusted for sex and age, and the determinants of patients’ professional prognosis were quantified by a composite score including professional-related outcomes. Results Questionnaires were filled by 235 patients (63.8% women, 36.4±14.7 years, 86.5% treated, 66.4% with childhood onset) and 166 controls (69.9% women, 40.3±14.4 years). No difference was observed between patients and controls for grade repetition and graduation level distribution, but patients reported more interruptions in their scolarity which was considered difficult, with more absenteeism and lateness. No difference was observed for employment rate (69.5% vs 77.0%) and socio-professional category distribution, but income was lower in patients who reported more unwanted changes in position and part-time work, with increased effort-reward imbalance (OR=2.28 95% CI [1.20-4.33], p=0.01). Almost half of the patients benefited from an official disability recognition and 10.2% received invalidity benefits. Impaired professional prognosis was associated with depression (p<0.0001) and attention disorders (p=0.03), while being narcoleptic during schooling was a protective factor (p=0.02). Residual sleep-related symptoms were not significant predictors. Discussion Most patients with NT1 manage to achieve their careers goals, but at the cost of an effort/reward imbalance. Early diagnosis during childhood might allow a better adjustment to the disease. The critical role of co-morbidities in professional trajectories suggests that, in treated patients, psycho-cognitive disturbances have greater impact on daily functionning than sleep-related symptoms, and stresses the need to consider psycho-cognitivo-social dimensions in patient care. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The project was founded by a research grant from the Rare Disease Foundation (2017). ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The trial was approved by the Ethic Review Board (CPP Nord-Ouest I, France, 2018-A01586-49), and by the National Commission for Data Protection. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes