Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome and Its Effects on Sleep and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure

Quality of life among patients with restless legs syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim was to estimate the pooled mean score of quality of life (QoL) (total, mental and physical health components) among patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Secondary aims were to assess: (I) QoL differences for RLS vs. control groups, (II) heterogeneity and possible sources; and (III) moderating variables.

METHODS

Studies identified in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest between January 2000 and December 2022 were included. Methodological quality was assessed with Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The protocol was pre-registered (PROSPERO, CRD42023387318).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies (20121 participants, 12 countries) were included. The corrected pooled estimated mean score of QoL was 47.92 (27 studies, CI 95 %: 43.11 to 52.72, range 0-100, i.e., low-high QoL) and was marginally affected by publication year (increased 0.89 by each year, p = 0.12). The corrected pooled estimated mean score of the mental health component was 47.32 (17 studies, 95 % CI: 43.12 to 51.51, range 0-100) and influenced by RLS instrument (decreased with recent versions, p = 0.05). The corrected pooled estimated mean score of the physical health component was 39.08 (17 studies, 95 % CI: 33.05 to 45.10, range 0-100), with no statistically significant moderator. The pooled estimated QoL scores were statistically significantly lower in RLS patients compared to control groups with standardized mean difference (SMD) of -0.78, -0.57 and -0.50 respectively for overall QoL (24 studies), physical and mental health components (14 studies). Total QoL SMD was affected by proportion of women.

CONCLUSION

Low QoL was revealed among RLS patients, which was statistically significantly reduced compared to control groups.

Kalça ve Diz Osteoartritli Hastalarda Huzursuz Bacak Sendromunun Yaygınlığı ve Şiddeti

Amaç: Huzursuz bacak sendromunun (HBS) prevalansı, şiddeti, ağrı düzeyleri, uyku hijyeni ve yaşam kalitesinin kalça ve diz osteoartriti (OA) arasında farklılık gösterip göstermediğini araştırmak. Gereç ve Yöntem: 2 Ocak 2020 - 2 Haziran 2020 tarihleri arasında 55-75 yaşları arasında diz OA'sı olan 103 ve kalça OA'si olan 98 hasta dahil edilme ve dışlama kriterlerine göre kaydedildi. Ağrı şiddeti için visüel ağrı skalası (VAS), OA şiddeti için Lequesne şiddet indeksi, HBS semptomlarının sıklığı ve şiddeti ve uyku davranışları için Uyku Hijyeni İndeksi ve genel sağlığın değerlendirilmesi için Nottingham Sağlık Profili (NSP) kullanıldı. Bulgular: HBS semptom şiddeti, HBS süresi, VAS genel ve gece, uyku hijyen indeksi ve NSP uyku, enerji ve NSP Bölüm 1 ve Bölüm 2 parametreleri Diz OA'sında kalça OA'ya göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti. HBS şiddeti ile HBS süresi,vücut kitle indeksi ve Leq Hip skorları arasında güçlü bir pozitif korelasyon saptandı; ancak gece VAS'ı, uyku NSP'si ve fiziksel NSP parametreleri arasında zayıf bir korelasyon tespit edildi. HBS süresi ile uyku NSP'si, Leq diz OA şiddeti ve derecesi arasında güçlü bir pozitif korelasyon saptandı. Sonuç: HBS’li hastaların tedavi ve takibinde hastaların kilo kontrolü ile birlikte kalça ve diz OA tedavisinin de göz önünde bulundurularak takip edilmesinin hastaların yaşam kalitelerinin artırılmasına yardımcı olacağı öngürülmektedir.

Restless legs syndrome, sleep quality, and perceived cognitive impairment in adults with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a prominent sleep disorder that often worsens sleep quality and perhaps cognitive function in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study examined the relationships among RLS prevalence and severity, sleep quality, and perceived cognitive impairment in adults with MS.

METHODS

Participants (N=275) completed the Cambridge-Hopkins Restless Legs Syndrome Questionnaire, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLS) Scale, the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS), and a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire.

RESULTS

Persons with MS who had RLS (i.e., MS+RLS; n=74) reported significantly worse perceived cognitive impairment compared with those who did not have RLS (n=201; p=0.015). Bivariate correlation analyses within the MS+RLS group indicated that greater RLS severity was significantly associated with more severe perceived cognitive impairment (r=0.274) and sleep quality (r=0.380), and worse perceived cognitive impairment was significantly associated with worse sleep quality (r=0.438). Linear, step-wise regression analyses indicated that RLS severity significantly predicted perceived cognitive impairment (β=0.274), but the inclusion of sleep quality (β=0.391) accounted for the relationship between RLS severity and perceived cognitive impairment (β=0.126).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that sleep impairment may be an intermediary factor in the association between RLS severity and cognitive impairment in persons with MS who present with RLS. The diagnosis and treatment of RLS symptoms and other effectors of sleep quality could improve neuropsychological consequences of MS.

Hypothyroidism in restless legs syndrome

The diurnal nature of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and its response to dopamine hint that hormones are central in RLS pathophysiology. Hypothyroidism has been linked to RLS, but studies are limited. This study's objective is to determine whether RLS is more prevalent in persons with hypothyroidism and whether hypothyroidism is more prevalent in RLS sufferers. Persons with hypothyroidism and controls were recruited through an on-line registry of potential research participants. RLS was assessed using the Cambridge-Hopkins questionnaire. RLS persons and controls were recruited through RLS Foundation and on-line registry advertisements and assessed for hypothyroidism by self-report. The International RLS Study Group Severity Scale assessed RLS severity; 266 hypothyroid subjects and 321 controls were comparable in age (52.3 ± 13.4 versus 53.9 ± 11.7 years; p = .14) and gender (91.7% versus 91.3% women; p = .85), as were 354 RLS and 313 controls (59.1 ± 13.2 versus 58.2 ± 13.6 years; p = .41; 80.8% versus 78.3% women; p = .42). Hypothyroid participants versus controls had a significantly higher prevalence of RLS (14.3% versus 8.1%; p = .02). RLS participants versus controls had a significantly higher prevalence of hypothyroidism (22.3% versus. 13.8%; p = .005). RLS severity was similar in persons with and without hypothyroidism. Among 73 persons with RLS and hypothyroidism, 14 previously were hyperthyroid versus 0 of 37 persons with hypothyroidism alone (p = .004). RLS prevalence is increased in individuals with hypothyroidism; hypothyroidism prevalence is increased in individuals with RLS. Persons with hypothyroidism and RLS are significantly more likely than those with hypothyroidism alone to have had hyperthyroidism prior to hypothyroidism. Associations between RLS and thyroid disease may shed light on complex biological mechanisms underlying RLS.