Restless legs syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and to determine the risk factors.

Methods: Patients were recruited from the Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital Diabetes Center. Patients between 18-80 years of age and meeting a minimum 5 years diagnosis of type-2 DM were included. All patients were examined by the same neurologist in terms of having RLS. The diagnosis was made according to the updated International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group consensus criteria. Mimicking conditions such as myalgia, venous stasis, leg edema, arthritis, leg cramps, positional discomfort and habitual foot tapping were carefully investigated and excluded. Laboratory data, insulin use, family history and other related co-morbidities connected to RLS patients were recorded. RLS severity assessment was scored and recorded.

Results: 318 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of RLS in type-2 DM patients was found to be 28.3%. RLS prevalence in females was 33.3% and 20.6% in males. 39 patients (43.3%) had a family history of RLS. 43 patients with RLS had a co-morbidity link with RLS. Any co-morbidity linked to RLS was not seen in 47 patients. The prevalence rate of RLS in patients without co-morbidities was 17.1%. Mean duration of DM in patients with RLS was 15.6±6.7years while in DM patients without RLS was 13.7±6.3years. The relationship between RLS and the duration of diabetes was found to be statically significant. (p=0.025). 68 (75.6%) of patients diagnosed with RLS were treated with insulin. A statistical significance was found in the development of RLS and insulin usage (p=0.035).

Conclusions: This is the first study which shows the RLS prevalence and risk factors in Turkish type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. The results indicated that RLS is much more frequent in DM patients even after excluding polyneuropathy than in general Turkish population. The duration of diabetes and insulin use are related to RLS.