Dravet syndrome: Characteristics, comorbidities, and caregiver concerns

The Dravet Syndrome Foundation (DSF) conducted the largest in-depth survey of parents and caregivers of patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) to date, in order to (1) identify top concerns among caregivers, (2) establish an approximate frequency of characteristics and comorbidities of DS beyond seizures, and (3) provide direction for clinicians and researchers looking to study the effects of DS on the patient and family unit. Two hundred fifty-six responses were received representing a patient age range of 9 months to 32 years with a median age group of 7-10 years (IQR = 8). In an open response, caregivers ranked speech/communication, impacts on siblings, and cognitive impairment as their top concerns after seizure control, and nearly two-thirds of caregivers reported having suffered from depression. Some characteristics of DS such as gait issues increased with patient age, while others, including photosensitivity, hypotonia, and ataxia, were present from a young age. Comorbidities such as sleep disturbances and cardiac abnormalities were more frequently reported than in previous studies and some (including bradycardia) were correlated with SCN1A mutation status. This survey supports the concept of Dravet syndrome as a disease of the central nervous system with far-reaching effects and highlights the importance of the patient voice in determining appropriate research objectives. While seizure frequency is a relatively well-understood objective, seizures represent only a portion of parent and caregiver concerns. Studying the characteristics of DS described herein may identify additional outcomes significant for research.