Restless leg syndrome and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in China

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 1355 - 1360
• Main Authors: Liu, Gangqiong, Feng, Xiao, Lan, Chao, Zhu, Ziqiang, Ma, Shengli, Guo, Yu, Xue, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; China; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Disability Evaluation; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - diagnosis; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology; Neurology; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Restless legs syndrome; Restless Legs Syndrome - diagnosis; Restless Legs Syndrome - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Multiple sclerosis; Sleep; China; Restless leg syndrome
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-015-1201-3

Background As a common neurological movement disorder, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is often seen in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship between RLS and MS is still unclear. This case-control study aimed to measure RLS prevalence and uncover its association with MS, as well as to identify possible associated risk factors. Methods Six hundred and ninety-five patients were randomly selected from a cohort of patients with MS at the Neurology Department of our hospital, and a group of age- and sex-matched healthy controls ( n  = 603) was enrolled from the general population. Using a face-to-face interview questionnaire, we collected data on RLS incidence in participants with or without MS. We further assessed sleep quality in all the participants. Results We found there to be a significantly higher prevalence of RLS among patients with MS compared to healthy controls (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; P  < 0.001). Risk factors such as an older MS age at onset and a longer MS duration were significantly associated with the presence of RLS. Furthermore, patients with both MS and RLS were more likely to suffer from sleep complaints compared to patients with MS without RLS. Conclusions RLS was significantly associated with MS and was found to have a significant impact on sleep quality, particularly in patients with MS.