Caroline Dodson1, Kanika Bagai1, Leonard B Weinstock2, Emily Thompson1, Luis E Okamoto3, Amanda Peltier1, Satish R Raj4, Arthur S Walters1. 1. Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. 2. Specialists in Gastroenterology, St. Louis, Missouri. 3. Clinical Pharmacology Division, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. 4. Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are both characterized by sleep disturbance along with autoimmune/inflammatory features and autonomic dysfunction. However, to our knowledge, there has been no direct study looking at the prevalence of RLS in patients with POTS patients compared with healthy participants (controls). METHODS: Ninety-six physician-diagnosed patients with POTS (89 female and 7 male) and 130 controls (99 female and 31 male) were administered the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire. Participants who were diagnosed with probable or definite RLS on the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire were then contacted to determine the severity of RLS with the International Restless Legs Scale. RESULTS: More patients with POTS (15 of 96; 15.6%) than controls (6 of 130; 4.6%) were diagnosed with probable or definite RLS on the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire (P = .0048). A sensitivity analysis with only female respondents yielded similar results. RLS severity was in the moderate range (12.23 ± 9.22). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher prevalence of RLS in patients with POTS patients compared with controls. This association may have to do with shared increased inflammatory/autoimmune load and autonomic dysfunction.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are both characterized by sleep disturbance along with autoimmune/inflammatory features and autonomic dysfunction. However, to our knowledge, there has been no direct study looking at the prevalence of RLS in patients with POTS patients compared with healthy participants (controls). METHODS: Ninety-six physician-diagnosed patients with POTS (89 female and 7 male) and 130 controls (99 female and 31 male) were administered the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire. Participants who were diagnosed with probable or definite RLS on the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire were then contacted to determine the severity of RLS with the International Restless Legs Scale. RESULTS: More patients with POTS (15 of 96; 15.6%) than controls (6 of 130; 4.6%) were diagnosed with probable or definite RLS on the Cambridge Hopkins questionnaire (P = .0048). A sensitivity analysis with only female respondents yielded similar results. RLS severity was in the moderate range (12.23 ± 9.22). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher prevalence of RLS in patients with POTS patients compared with controls. This association may have to do with shared increased inflammatory/autoimmune load and autonomic dysfunction.
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