Long-Term Effects of Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Restless Legs Syndrome Severity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract

To research how long-term positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy affects the severity of restless legs syndrome in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSASThe study included 320 individuals that were diagnosed with moderate and severe OSAS using polysomnography (PSG) and under PAP treatment. Among these patients, the demographic data of 72 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of restless legs syndrome (RLS) were analyzed. The patients were evaluated with the International RLS Study Group rating scale (IRLS) before and at the 12th month after PAP in the treatment of OSAS. The mean body mass index of the 72 patients with OSAS and RLS was 31.2 (±5.8), and their mean apnea-hypopnea index was 44.9±27.7. The prevalence of RLS in moderate and severe OSAS was 24%. There was a negative correlation between the IRLS score and mean oxygen saturation all night (r: -0.075), minimum oxygen saturation all night (r: -0.125), time spent below <90% saturation (r: -0.172), and sleep efficiency (r: 0.087) on PSG performed before PAP treatment, as well as a negative correlation between the IRLS score and weekly PAP use hours at the 12th month after PAP treatment (r: -0.316; p<0.001). The data obtained from this study suggest that the coexistence of OSAS and RLS is common and should not be overlooked in the diagnosis of comorbid diseases. Long-term PAP treatment is effective in reducing RLS symptoms. Further studies are needed on this subject.