Medical conditions associated with Restless Legs syndrome: Anxiety disorder is on first line (original) (raw)

2009, Sahin S, Cinar N, Okluoglu T, Bilge M.O, Sezgin G, Karsidag S. Medical Conditions Associated with Restless Legs Syndrome: Anxiety Disorder is on the First Line. Mov Dis 2009;24: S445-S446.

Objective: Based on recent data about the association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and different medical conditions, we performed a study on the occurrence of comorbid disorders in patients with RLS. Background: Several conditions were shown to be associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS), especially anemia and, renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy. These are considered “secondary” forms of RLS. In absence of those medical disorders, RLS is called “primary” or “idiopathic” RLS, the most frequent form of this condition. Nowadays, new comorbidities and risk factors including mood disorders have described in literature. Methods: Four thousand five hundred patients which have been seen in the general neurology outpatient clinic between 2006 and 2008 were evaluated as retrospectively and 76 patients with RLS were selected, a telephone interview was made with them, and they were invited. Fifty-five patients (34 females and 21males) accepted and they re-evaluated. The presence of associated conditions was determined by clinical interviews, complete physical and neurological examinations, and blood chemistry and electromyogram when clinically recommended. Also, Hamilton depression and anxiety scales were applied to all patients. Results: Seventy-six patients (1.6%) of the general neurology outpatient clinic were suffering from RLS. We could re-evaluated 55 of them. Among the RLS subjects, 61.8 % was female (mean age 55±14 years), and 38.2% was male (mean age 61±11 years). RLS symptoms were reported for a mean duration of 5.8±7.4 years (range=1–35 years). Mild-moderate depression was noted in 3 patients (5.4%) and generalized anxiety disorder were found in 13 patients (23.6%) with RLS. Other comorbid conditions were iron deficiency anemia (7.3%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (7.3%), parkinsonism (5.4%), Alzheimer's disease (5.4%) lumbar disc herniation (10.9%), hypertension (12.7%), and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (9%). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between physical and mental health problems and RLS. Our results strongly suggested that it was clear associaton between anxiety disorders and RLS. That relationship might be originated reciprocal interactions and common pathophysiologies. Further investigations are needed.