Exploring Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence in Relationship to the Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, and Menopause: Do all Women Diagnosed with Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence Share the Same Experience?

This is the first cross-sectional, observational study concerning the experience of Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence (CDH) symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) in the context of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause within the female human CDH population. 104 Dutch women (16-85 years) with CDH completed a self-designed hormone questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess the experience of CDH symptoms during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. It was expected that per hormonal phase a majority of women would experience a difference in their CDH symptoms and that women who experienced a difference would have a worse QoL compared to the women who did not experience a difference. Results: For the menstrual cycle a minority of women experienced a difference (X2(1, N = 56) = 4.57, p = .033). For pregnancy a majority of women experienced a difference (X2 (1, N = 30) = 10.80, p = ...Show moreThis is the first cross-sectional, observational study concerning the experience of Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence (CDH) symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) in the context of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause within the female human CDH population. 104 Dutch women (16-85 years) with CDH completed a self-designed hormone questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess the experience of CDH symptoms during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. It was expected that per hormonal phase a majority of women would experience a difference in their CDH symptoms and that women who experienced a difference would have a worse QoL compared to the women who did not experience a difference. Results: For the menstrual cycle a minority of women experienced a difference (X2(1, N = 56) = 4.57, p = .033). For pregnancy a majority of women experienced a difference (X2 (1, N = 30) = 10.80, p = .001). For menopause no significant result was found. Exploration revealed the majority of eleven specific experienced CDH symptoms to change in intensity during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. This was not found for menopause. Additionally, no significant outcomes were found concerning the ESS, FSS and SF-36 between women that experienced a difference and women that did not experience a difference in their CDH symptoms during hormonal phases. Conclusion: This study is the first to suggest that not all female CDH patients share the same experience, providing a starting point for further investigation to fully understand how the experience of CDH can be altered within women as a result of hormonal influences. If it is known how and why CDH can present itself differently, CDH will be better detectable, leading female patients to receive accurate diagnosis, treatment and support more quickly. However, results of this study need to be interpreted with caution due to limitations including retrospective data, utilization of a non-validated questionnaire and a small research sample.Show less

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Exploring Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence in Relationship to the Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, and Menopause: Do all Women Diagnosed with Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence Share the Same Experience?