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Restless legs syndrome and post polio syndrome: a case−control study
Author(s) -
Romigi A.,
Pierantozzi M.,
Placidi F.,
Evangelista E.,
Albanese M.,
Liguori C.,
Nazzaro M.,
Risina B. U.,
Simonelli V.,
Izzi F.,
Mercuri N. B.,
Desiato M. T.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.12593
Subject(s) - medicine , restless legs syndrome , odds ratio , confidence interval , epworth sleepiness scale , physical therapy , quality of life (healthcare) , cohort , insomnia , polysomnography , psychiatry , apnea , nursing
Background and purpose The aim was to investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome ( RLS ), fatigue and daytime sleepiness in a large cohort of patients affected by post polio syndrome ( PPS ) and their impact on patient health‐related quality of life ( HRQoL ) compared with healthy subjects. Methods PPS patients were evaluated by means of the Stanford Sleepiness Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale ( FSS ). The Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) questionnaire was utilized to assess HRQoL in PPS . RLS was diagnosed when standard criteria were met. Age and sex matched healthy controls were recruited amongst spouses or friends of PPS subjects. Results A total of 66 PPS patients and 80 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. A significantly higher prevalence of RLS ( P < 0.0005; odds ratio 21.5; 95% confidence interval 8.17–57) was found in PPS patients ( PPS / RLS + 63.6%) than in healthy controls (7.5%). The FSS score was higher in PPS / RLS + than in PPS / RLS − patients ( P = 0.03). A significant decrease of SF‐36 scores, including the physical function ( P = 0.001), physical role ( P = 0.0001) and bodily pain ( P = 0.03) domains, was found in PPS / RLS + versus PPS / RLS − patients. Finally, it was found that PPS / RLS + showed a significant correlation between International Restless Legs Scale score and FSS ( P < 0.0001), as well as between International Restless Legs Scale score and most of the SF‐36 items (physical role P = 0.0018, general health P = 0.0009, vitality P = 0.0022, social functioning P = 0.002, role emotional P = 0.0019, and mental health P = 0.0003). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a high prevalence of RLS in PPS , and that RLS occurrence may significantly influence the HRQoL and fatigue of PPS patients. A hypothetical link between neuroanatomical and inflammatory mechanisms in RLS and PPS is suggested.