title: Cardiovascular risk factors in restless legs syndrome.
abstract: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with and without restless legs syndrome (RLS). Adults attending their annual checkup completed the International RLS Study Group questionnaire and underwent an interview by a neurologist. Data from the annual checkup were compared between subjects with and without RLS. The prevalence of RLS was 6.7% (95% CI 5.45-7.95) among 1,537 responders. RLS subjects' blood tests showed significantly higher fasting blood glucose level (P = 0.029), higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.029) and reduced renal function (P = 0.013), and increased prevalence of low hematocrit (P = 0.008). RLS subjects weighed more (P = 0.029), had a higher BMI (P = 0.033), larger hip circumference (P = 0.033), and were less fit (P = 0.010). To control for interactions among statistical predictors, we also employed multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, smoking, BMI, hemoglobin, glucose, HDL/LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine. We found that female gender (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.11-4.17), smoking (OR 1.82; 95% CI, 1.10-3.00), and HDL/LDL cholesterol (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.034-0.90) were significantly associated with RLS compared with subjects without RLS. RLS was associated with cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. i_schles@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erikh
authors.forename: Ophir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Avizohar
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yarnitsky
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires