Prevalence and correlates of restless legs syndrome in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the legs. This syndrome is a common, yet unrecognized, disorder. The aim of this project was to study the prevalence and correlations of RLS in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis in Shahid Rahnemon hospital, Yazd (Iran). This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in hemodialysis ward of Shahid Rahnemon hospital for one month during 2012. In order to recognize RLS, eligible patients (n = 116) were examined based on the clinical diagnostic criteria for RLS. Also, laboratory findings were recorded in the checklist for each participant. Remarkably, the prevalence of RLS was 67.2% and 58.6% of subjects were male. Mean age of the subjects was 60.1 ± 14.4 years. There was not significant relation between RLS and serum potassium, calcium, phosphorus, urea, iron and ferritin (P ≥ 0.05). However, there was a significant relation between RLS and serum hemoglobin (P = 0.014). According to the result, a significant percentage of patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from RLS and presence of this syndrome is associated to serum hemoglobin level.