title: Are we aware of restless legs syndrome in COPD patients who are in an exacerbation period? Frequency and probable factors related to underlying mechanism.
abstract: A few previous studies have reported that the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a 29.1% to 36.8% frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS). In this study, we observed RLS symptoms in patients experiencing COPD exacerbation to better understand the relationship between the many clinical parameters of COPD and the presence of RLS and to attract the attention of specialists on the association between the two conditions. Twenty-two male patients in COPD exacerbation; 17 healthy individuals were evaluated in this study. The patients were evaluated using the 2003 RLS symptom criteria outlined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups (IRLSSG). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth daytime sleepiness scale were used to assess the sleep quality of patients. The RLS symptoms were correlated with blood levels of laboratory and clinical parameters. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistical software packet. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth daytime sleepiness scale scores were increased in COPD patients and correlated significantly with RLS symptoms. It was found that 54.5% of COPD patients with acute exacerbations were observed to have RLS symptoms. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was significantly higher in COPD patients with RLS symptoms compared to COPD patients without RLS symptoms (p < 0.05). We did not observe any significant difference in the previously reported metabolic and clinical parameters associated with RLS in COPD patients with and without RLS. RLS symptoms increase during COPD exacerbation and lead to decreased sleep quality.
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Disease and Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. gulfidanaras@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gulfidan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kadakal
authors.forename: Sevim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purisa
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanmaz
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aynaci
authors.forename: Elvan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isik
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D005492:Folic Acid