Restless Legs Syndrome Common in Diabetics

Restless legs syndrome can be a major cause of sleep disruption in this population. Dr. Veralice M. S. de Bruin and colleagues from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil, examined the presence of RLS and the quality of sleep in type 2 diabetic patients. Included in the cross-sectional study were 100 consecutive patients who regularly attended a diabetes clinic at the University Hospital.

The researchers used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess the patients’ quality of sleep and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure excessive daytime sleepiness. The four minimum criteria defined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group were used to diagnose RLS.

"RLS was detected in 27 patients, 25 of whom had peripheral neuropathy," Dr. de Bruin’s team reports. "An association between RLS and peripheral neuropathy was confirmed by logistic regression analysis (p = 0.001)."

Overall, 45% of the patients had poor sleep quality, which was associated with age, the presence of RLS and peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-six percent of subjects exhibited excessive daytime sleepiness, which was not associated with the presence of RLS.

Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that type 2 diabetics be screened for RLS, especially patients with polyneuropathy.
Diabetes Care 2005;28:2633-2636.

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