J Mult Scler Res. Ahead of Print: JMSRES-19480 | DOI: 10.4274/jmsr.galenos.2024.2024-6-1

The Impact of Restless Legs Syndrome on Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Adalet Göçmen
Þanlýurfa Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Neurology, Þanlýurfa, Turkey

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of restless legs syndrome (RLS) on quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using the MS Quality of Life Scale-54 (MSQOL-54).
Materials and Methods: A total of 80 patients (49 women and 31 men) were included in this study. The questionnaire was based on the International RLS Study Group diagnostic criteria for RLS. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, and MSQOL-54 were used.
Results: RLS was significantly higher in patients with MS than in the healthy control group (p=0.001). The MSQOL-54 scale mean values were significantly higher in patients with MS than in the healthy control group (p=0.000). Poor sleep quality, and a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (p=0.007). Patients with poor sleep quality had significantly lower mean MSQOL-54 values. A significant association was noted between poor sleep quality and RLS (p=0.023). Moreover, chronic fatigue was significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.021). In addition, chronic fatigue was significantly higher in patients with RLS (p=0.049) In the patient group, no relationship was observed between mean values of the MSQOL-54 scale and the mean and RLS.
Conclusion: RLS was associated with poor sleep quality and chronic fatigue in patients with MS and may exert an indirect effect on quality of life; therefore, diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

Keywords: Fatigue, multiple sclerosis, quality of life, restless legs syndrome, sleep quality

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