In 2023, an SRSF Focused Research Award was awarded to Dr. Christopher Kaufmann and team. The purpose of this webinar is to disseminate the published outcomes of his research.
Overview:
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Growing evidence suggests an association between narcolepsy and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), highlighting the need for greater awareness in the identification and management of this condition. In this webinar, we will share findings from a recent pharmacoepidemiologic study that utilized a large administrative claims dataset for approximately 35,000 patients with narcolepsy to assess causal associations with CVD. The study examined the relationship between narcolepsy with both major adverse cardiovascular events (e.g., stroke, heart attack, etc.) and subclinical cardiovascular outcomes (i.e., hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), while accounting for key coexisting and likely confounding risk factors such as sleep apnea and medication use (e.g., stimulants). Our findings indicate that the elevated risk for CVD and related subclinical conditions is evident across diverse subgroups, including children, suggesting that narcolepsy may serve as an independent risk factor regardless of coexisting conditions or medications traditionally associated with increased CVD risk. Implications for clinical practice and future research directions will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Provide robust evidence supporting the association between narcolepsy and CVD, namely both major adverse cardiovascular events, and subclinical cardiovascular outcomes.
- Identify the risk factors contributing to the observed associations.
- Discuss how these associations vary across different age groups and patient subgroups.
Presenters:
- Christopher N. Kaufmann, PhD, MHS, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
- Rakesh Bhattacharjee, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA
- Haesuk Park, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL
Date and Time:
May 1, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET
Complimentary session - advanced registration is required. This webinar will be recorded and available for viewing at a late date. Attendees will receive notification once the recording is available.
