The Impact of Restless Legs Syndrome/ Willis–Ekbom Disorder on Quality of Life

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aadi Kalloo ◽  
Charlene E Gamaldo ◽  
Anthony B Kwan ◽  
Rachel E Salas ◽  
◽  
...  

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis–Ekbom Disorder (WED), is a condition associated with nocturnal sensorimotor symptoms that can result in significant sleep disruption. RLS is a prevalent condition, affecting an estimated 3.9–14.3 % of the US population. Despite the most recently reported prevalence studies, many experts in the field still believe RLS is a generally underdiagnosed condition. RLS can negatively affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL) across several domains, such as daytime sleepiness, decreased general health, decreased immune function, stress and mood. Of those patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms that require treatment, the currently available therapeutic options (e.g. iron supplements, dopamine agonists, benzodiazepines, opioids and anticonvulsants) can also come with adverse side effects that can further impact QoL. The purpose of this article is to examine the QoL deficits experienced by RLS patients.

US Neurology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Aadi Kalloo ◽  
Charlene E Gamaldo ◽  
Anthony B Kwan ◽  
Rachel E Salas ◽  
◽  
...  

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis–Ekbom Disorder (WED), is a condition associated with nocturnal sensorimotor symptoms that can result in significant sleep disruption. RLS is a prevalent condition, affecting an estimated 3.9–14.3 % of the US population. Despite the most recently reported prevalence studies, many experts in the field still believe RLS is a generally underdiagnosed condition. RLS can negatively affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL) across several domains, such as daytime sleepiness, decreased general health, decreased immune function, stress, and mood. Of those patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms that require treatment, the currently available therapeutic options (e.g. iron supplements, dopamine agonists, benzodiazepines, opioids, and anticonvulsants) can also come with adverse side effects that can further impact QoL. The purpose of this article is to examine the QoL deficits experienced by RLS patients.


2009 ◽  
Vol 285 ◽  
pp. S298
Author(s):  
A.P.D. Doneva ◽  
K.P.K. Pili Kuzeva ◽  
V.P.D. Donev

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9032-9032 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Saini ◽  
L. Ostacoli ◽  
E. Sguazzotti ◽  
S. Capogna ◽  
C. Castronovo ◽  
...  

9032 Background: The Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is one of the commonest neurological sensorimotor disorders consisting in periodic limbs movements during the sleeping time that lead to severe insomnia and quality of life deterioration. The prevalence of RLS in normal population is 7 and 11% in males and females respectively. RLS correlated with female sex and iron deficiency. Chronic pain, sensory polineuropathy and the use of dopamine antagonist drugs can induce or exacerbate RLS. Dopamine agonists are extremely active drugs in controlling RLS. The prevalence of RLS in cancer patients is unknown. Methods: The presence of RLS, by means of the essential diagnostic criteria provided by the International RLS Study Group (Allen RP, Sleep Med; 2003), was tested in 257 consecutive cancer patients (119 males and 138 females) with different malignancies belonging to two different Medical Oncology centres. All patients were receiving chemotherapy. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) questionnaires were administered concomitantly to assess the impact of RLS on quality of life, anxiety or depression and styles of coping, respectively. Results: RLS was present in 47 patients (18.3%), 14 males (11.8%) and 33 females (23.9%); (p=0.01). RLS directly correlated with pain (p<0.0001), nausea (p<0.001), worse physical well-being (p=0.007), emotional well- being (p=0.001) and functional well-being (p=0.02). RLS affected patients showed higher levels of anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p=0.001). The styles of coping consisting in anxious preoccupation and hopeless were also more represented in the RLS affected patients (p=0.04 and p=0.02 respectively) than their counterparts. Conclusions: RLS is frequent and underdiagnosed in cancer patients. It may cause anxiety, depression and quality of life deterioration. Early RLS detection and prompt introduction of dopamine agonists may improve patient quality of life. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 205-208
Author(s):  
Monica F. Ataide ◽  
Carolina da Cunha-Correia ◽  
Katia C.L. Petribú

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized for an uncomfortable sensation in legs and an irresistible desire to move them. This disorder has been more recently recognized in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and can interfere with the quality of life (QOL). Objectives: The aims of this study are to describe the prevalence of RLS and its severity and influence on the QOL in patients with MG. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from May to June 2016 in Recife, Brazil. A sample of 42 patients was interviewed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, MG QOL questionnaire-15 and The RLS Rating Scale. Results: RLS was present in 47.6% of patients and of these 40.5% met moderate to severe RLS criteria. Patients were 45 years on average (SD ± 14.4) and women represented 57.1% of the study population. Among patients with RSL, the quality-of-life scores were worse (p = 0.010) on average. There was no association of RLS with the duration of MG, use of immunosuppressant or clinical conditions that could mimic the occurrence of RLS. Conclusion: RLS is a prevalent condition in patients with MG, and may be severe enough to negatively impact QOL.


2007 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. S74
Author(s):  
C. Trenkwalder ◽  
K. Stiasny-Kolster ◽  
A. Kupsch ◽  
W. Oertel ◽  
J. Koester

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