Restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients in India: a case controlled study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in Indian patients on hemodialysis as compared to controls. Methods: One hundred and twenty-one consecutive hemodialysis patients and 99 controls were evaluated using a standard predesigned questionnaire. The control group comprised completely normal healthy adults who were being evaluated as renal donors. Nerve conduction studies were done in those patients diagnosed with RLS. Results: RLS was present in eight hemodialysis patients (6.6%) and none of the controls. Patients (87.5%) with RLS had delayed sleep onset. Nerve conduction showed evidence of sensori-motor neuropathy in five patients and a normal study in one patient. When we compared the patients with RLS to those without RLS, there was no significant difference in their age, duration of hemodialysis, hemoglobin, blood urea, creatinine, serum ferritin or use of erythropoeitin. Conclusions: The prevalence of RLS was 6.6% in patients on hemodialysis; and 0% in controls, which is much lower than that reported from the West.