Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus

Mujeeb Rehman; Shahneela Tabassum; Syed Onaiz Anwar; Rana Shahid Hafeez; Kanwal Sartaj; Shumaila Onaiz

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v76i3.12302

Authors

Mujeeb Rehman Department of Medicine, Pakistan Navy Ship Rahat Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
Shahneela Tabassum Department of Neurology, Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
Syed Onaiz Anwar Department of Neurology, Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
Rana Shahid Hafeez Department of Medicine, Pakistan Navy Ship Rahat Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
Kanwal Sartaj Department of Medicine, Pakistan Navy Ship Rahat Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
Shumaila Onaiz Department of Neurology, Pakistan Navy Ship Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76i3.12302

Keywords:

Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Restless Legs Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition typified by an insatiable desire to move the legs and is sometimes

Objective: To analyze frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of study: Department of Medicine at PNS Rahat Hospital Karachi, Pakistan from Oct 2023 to Mar 2024.

Methodology: A total of 240 patients who visited OPD were included in the study and evaluated. Sixty patients were placed in each in each category: Hypertension (Group-A), Diabetes Mellitus (Group-B), Hypertension plus Diabetes Mellitus (Group-C), and controls Group (Group-D). RLS was ascertained by question proforma as per International RLS Study Group Criteria.

Results: RLS was identified in 34 (56.6%) patients in Group-A, 35 (58.3%) patients in Group-B and 46 (76.6%) patients in Group-C. RLS was verified in 32 (53.3%) patients in Group-D. Female gender was found to have been slightly more affected by RLS in comparison to males. Moreover, it was also notably observed that in Groups C and D, patients aged fifty years and above were the most frequently observed age group.

Conclusion: Frequency of RLS is significantly more noteworthy in individuals with both diabetes and hypertension, and diabetes alone, followed by those with hypertension. It is necessary to raise physician perception of RLS because it is a common disorder in community. Since it can significantly lower quality of life, patients need to be diagnosed and provided the option of therapy.

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