Table 3.
Cataplexy features.
| Features | Children Aged < 11 Years (n = 20) | Adolescents Aged 11–18 Years (n = 21) | Adults Aged 19–44 Years (n = 23) | Middle-Aged Patients Aged 45–64 Years (n = 22) | Seniors Aged > 64 Years (n = 20) | P (χ2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataplexy frequency (%) | ||||||
| ≥ 1/d | 95 | 57 | 52 | 50 | 40 | < .05 |
| ≥ 1/mo | 5 | 43 | 44 | 41 | 45 | |
| < 1/mo | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 15 | |
| Cataplexy duration (%) | ||||||
| < 10 s | 45 | 43 | 48 | 36 | 35 | ns |
| 10–120 s | 55 | 57 | 35 | 36 | 40 | |
| > 120 s | 0 | 0 | 17 | 27 | 25 | |
| Time-of-day effect on cataplexy (%) | 65 | 38 | 22 | 32 | 25 | < .05 |
| Use of strategies to avoid cataplexy attack (%) | 25 | 38 | 30 | 36 | 15 | ns |
| Use of strategies to control cataplexy attack (%) | 65 | 90 | 78 | 64 | 65 | ns |
| Cataplexy triggers | ||||||
| Laugh (%) | 100 | 100 | 96 | 95 | 85 | ns |
| Telling/listening to jokes (%) | 75 | 86 | 61 | 82 | 80 | ns |
| Euphoria (%) | 45 | 48 | 65 | 68 | 55 | ns |
| Recalling an emotional event (%) | 5 | 19 | 22 | 36 | 45 | < .05 |
| Meeting someone unexpectedly (%) | 5 | 20 | 53 | 82 | 70 | < .0001 |
| Surprise (%) | 45 | 38 | 65 | 50 | 70 | ns |
| Anger (%) | 20 | 38 | 74 | 73 | 55 | < .005 |
| Stress (%) | 10 | 14 | 17 | 45 | 30 | < .05 |
| Embarrassment (%) | 20 | 20 | 48 | 23 | 50 | ns |
| Fear (%) | 35 | 38 | 32 | 36 | 40 | ns |
| Sexual intercourse (%) | — | — | 17 | 18 | 0 | ns |
ns = not significant.