Premium
Factors associated with augmentation in patients with restless legs syndrome
Author(s) -
Heim Beatrice,
Ellmerer Philipp,
Stefani Ambra,
Bergmann Melanie,
Brandauer Elisabeth,
Seppi Klaus,
Högl Birgit,
Djamshidian Atbin
Publication year - 2022
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.15221
Subject(s) - restless legs syndrome , medicine , alexithymia , impulsivity , depression (economics) , history of depression , smoking history , pediatrics , medical history , physical therapy , psychiatry , anxiety , neurology , economics , macroeconomics
Background and purpose Augmentation is a paradoxical reaction mainly to dopaminergic medication in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS), but the exact pathomechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with augmentation in RLS patients. Methods RLS patients with and without current or previous augmentation were recruited. Demographic characteristics, history of smoking, questionnaires for depression, alexithymia, and impulsivity, and RLS severity were obtained. Results We included 122 patients, of whom half had a history of augmentation. Patients with augmentation had a longer disease duration ( p = 0.001), had higher RLS severity scores ( p = 0.013), had higher levodopa equivalent doses ( p < 0.001), had higher scores for alexithymia ( p = 0.028), had higher prevalence of impulse control disorders ( p < 0.001), more often had a history of smoking ( p = 0.039), were more often currently smoking ( p = 0.015), and had more average pack‐years ( p = 0.016). Conclusions Here, we describe several factors commonly associated with augmentation in RLS. These may help clinicians to screen and treat patients carefully to avoid the challenging side effect of augmentation.