Assessment of sleep quality in spouses of patients with restless legs syndrome; Are they also restless at night?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the sleep quality of spouses of patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Total 49 spouses of patients with RLS (Group 1) and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (Group 2) were enrolled. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all participants. High risk of the sleep apnea was excluded by Berlin Questionnaire. The RLS severity of patients was determined by International Restless Legs Syndrome rating scale. The mean age was 44.91 ± 12.81 in Group 1 (25 female, 24 male) and 41.48 ± 8.20 in Group 2 (25 female, 22 male). 35 (71.4%) participants in Group 1 and 20 (42.6%) participants in Group 2 had poor sleep quality (p = 0.004). Sleep quality was poor in 84% (n = 21) of female and 58.3% (n = 14) of male in Group 1 (p = 0.05). Sleep quality, insomnia and daytime sleepiness found to be correlated significantly with RLS severity (p < 0.05). Scores of BDI and BAI also correlated with PSQI (p = 0.002, p = 0.03). The significant relationship was observed between subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and disease severity (p = 0.03, p = 0.005). Restless legs syndrome may be a factor that may impair the quality of sleep in spouses of patients. Sleep quality is important in an individual's relationship with his / her health and spouse. In the treatment and follow-up of patients with RLS, their spouses should also be evaluated in this respect.