Objective: We investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Parkinson’s disease patients and to identify associated clinical features, motor and non-motor symptoms.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder that can coexist with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the precise pathophysiology of co-existence of two disease remains unknown, it is assumed that dopaminergic mechanisms play a central role. Previous studies have shown an association between restless legs syndrome and Parkinson’s disease.

Methods: This was a restrospective study among patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Patients who agreed to participate and gave informed consent were interviewed and examined clinically. Patients with diseases that may cause secondary RLS other than Parkinson’s disease were excluded. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criterion was used to identify patients with restless legs syndrome. Further assessments were performed on blood test, clinical features, PD motor severity scales (UPDRS part III), PD sleep scale, anxiety, depression, Quality of Life, and autonomic disturbances (SCOPA-AUT) in PD patients with and without RLS.

Results: A total of 71 patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. The overall mean age of this study population was 65.6 ± 9.1 years. The mean age of onset of PD was 62.7 ± 9.6 years and the median duration of illness was 2.8 (0.08–20.0) years. The prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome in our cohort was 22.5% (n = 16). There was no significant difference disease duration of PD, current age, age of onset, levodopa equivalent dose (LED), UPDRS part III score, Hoen and Yahr stage, and MMSE score between with RLS and without RLS groups. Anxiety , depression, and quality of life were worse in patient with RLS, statistically. PD patients with RLS had significantly worse sleep quality (P = 0.001) and worse cardiovascular subscale of SCOPA-AUT (P = 0.031). Total and other subscales (except sexual) showed worse tendency of autonomic dysfunction in RLS (+) group.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrated a higher prevalence of RLS in patients with PD compared to general population. In our study, PD patients with RLS suffer from wore sleep quality, depression, anxiety, quality of life and more severe autonomic disturbances, especially cardiovascular problem. Causes for more severe autonomic dysfunction in PD patients with RLS require further investigation.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/restless-legs-syndrome-in-parkinsons-disease-patients-a-comparative-study-on-prevalence-clinical-features-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms/