Abstract MP44: Cardiovascular and Behavioral Correlates of Restless Leg Syndrome in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Abstract

Background: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs at rest that leads to sleep disruption and impaired quality of life. Correlates of RLS in prior studies are inconsistent but include many correlates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The objective of our study is to describe the burden and correlates of RLS in an epidemiological study of middle-aged adults. Methods: Participants in the CARDIA study completed the Cambridge-Hopkins RLS questionnaire between 2020-2022. Sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, depressive symptoms, parity and menopausal status were determined based on self-report. Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were measured using standard procedures. Serum glucose and creatinine were measured in fasting samples. A spot urine collection was used to determine urinary albumin and creatinine. Hypertension and diabetes were determined based on current clinical guidelines. We carried out univariate and multivariable logistic regression modeling to identify correlates associated with RLS. Results: In 2337 CARDA participants (44% Black and 60% female) with a mean age of 55.2 years old (SD=3.6), 120 (5.5%) participants (white women=78, black women=12, white men=26 and black men=4) endorsed symptoms of RLS. White participants and females were significantly more likely to endorse having RLS (Table). Health behaviors assessed in our study were not associated with RLS; however, the presence of diabetes and markers of adverse kidney function (i.e., serum creatinine, ACR) were associated with a higher odds of RLS and these associations persisted in a multivariable model. Conclusion: Metabolic disorders that lead to microvascular and peripheral nerve damage were associated with RLS in this sample. Future research should investigate whether RLS and peripheral neuropathy are overlapping conditions.