Restless legs syndrome is associated with poor sleep quality and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a questionnaire-based study

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and the associations between RLS and quality of sleep and life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). One hundred and eight AS patients and 64 controls were included in this study. Demographics, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. The presence of RLS was determined with face-to-face interview by an experienced neurologist based on the International RLS Study Group criteria. RLS severity was evaluated using International RLS Study Group rating scale. Sleep quality and insomnia severity were assessed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and insomnia severity index (ISI), respectively. Disease-related quality of life was evaluated by AS quality of life questionnaire (ASQoL). The frequency of RLS was significantly higher in AS patients than in controls (36.4 vs. 14.0 %, p = 0.004). RLS severity score for AS patients was significantly higher than that for controls (p = 0.03). The AS patients had higher scores in the subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication domains of PSQI, and also total PSQI and ISI than controls (p < 0.05, for all). ASQoL scores were higher in AS patients with RLS compared to those without RLS (p < 0.001). RLS severity was observed to be independently associated with total PSQI, ISI and ASQoL (p < 0.05, for all). As RLS may adversely affect the sleep and quality of life in AS patients, clinicians should be aware of RLS for early diagnosis and management in AS patients.

Restless legs syndrome in children with allergic rhinitis: A comparative study on frequency, severity and sleep quality

“…Various studies showed the increased frequency of RLS and its association with poor sleep quality in many diseases such as chronic renal failure, [26] fibromyalgia, [27] ankylosing spondylitis, [28] lumbar radiculopathy, [29] inf lammatory bowel disease, [30] or primary biliary cirrhosis. [31] However, there exist only a small number of studies which investigate the relationship between RLS and allergic diseases in adults, but not in children.…”

Evaluation of sleep quality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and efficacy of anti‐TNF‐α therapy on sleep problems: A polisomnographic study

“…Periodic leg movements are seen in 3.9% of the normal population . Demirci et al . used the International Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) study group criteria to determine the frequency of RLS, which has been known to be associated with PLMI, in patients with AS.…”

Restless legs syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus: A case‑control study

“…There were no cases considered appropriate from inclusion in the severe (21-30) or very severe (31-40) group. For the controls there was one mild case (0-10) and one moderate case (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

“…RLS patients declare worse global quality of life and important impairments of mental and general physical status compared to healthy individuals or to patients with other conditions (6). There are several diseases/conditions which are suggested to increase the prevalence of RLS: Renal failure (8), kidney transplantation (9), rheumatoid arthritis (10), fibromyalgia (11), lung transplantation (12), migraine (13), ankylosing spondylitis (14) or multiple sclerosis (15). In pregnancy, the prevalence of RLS is also high, but in contrast with the aforementioned conditions, it has a good prognosis, remitting in few weeks/months after delivery (16).…”