BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A population-based case-control study in the city of Catania, Sicily, was carried out to determine restless legs syndrome (RLS) prevalence and its association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Patients were randomly selected from a cohort of MS patients resident in the study area and a group of age and sex matched controls was enrolled from the general population. RLS was diagnosed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria. RESULTS: In total, 152 MS patients and 431 controls were included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence of RLS amongst MS patients (14.5%) compared with controls (6.0%) was detected, corresponding to an almost threefold increased risk (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4-5.0) of developing RLS. Spinal cord lesions in MS patients were associated with a higher risk of RLS (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-13.5). CONCLUSION: RLS was strongly associated with MS, with a significantly higher risk in patients presenting spinal cord lesions.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A population-based case-control study in the city of Catania, Sicily, was carried out to determine restless legs syndrome (RLS) prevalence and its association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS:Patients were randomly selected from a cohort of MSpatients resident in the study area and a group of age and sex matched controls was enrolled from the general population. RLS was diagnosed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria. RESULTS: In total, 152 MSpatients and 431 controls were included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence of RLS amongst MSpatients (14.5%) compared with controls (6.0%) was detected, corresponding to an almost threefold increased risk (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4-5.0) of developing RLS. Spinal cord lesions in MSpatients were associated with a higher risk of RLS (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-13.5). CONCLUSION:RLS was strongly associated with MS, with a significantly higher risk in patients presenting spinal cord lesions.
Authors: Edgar Carnero Contentti; Pablo A López; Debora Nadur; María Eugenia Balbuena; Ana Mariel Finkelstein; Verónica Tkachuk Journal: Int J MS Care Date: 2019 Jul-Aug