Restless Legs Syndrome in Multiple Sclerosis: Risk factors and effect on sleep quality - a case-control study.

Previous studies suggested an association between MS and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Data on the prevalence of RLS in Austrian MS patients and on the influence of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) on RLS are lacking. To investigate (1) the prevalence of RLS in Austria compared to control persons (CP), (2) risk factors for RLS in MS, and (3) influence of DMTs on RLS prevalence and/or severity. Adult MS patients and CP were screened for RLS by face-to-face interviews, including questionnaires for RLS severity, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. 23.9% of MS patients (n=117) had RLS compared to 3.4% (p<0.001) of CP (n=119). The MS+RLS group (n=28) had a higher rate of sleep impairment (78.6% vs 21.3%, p<0.001) and excessive daytime sleepiness (32.1% vs 15.7%, p=0.045) compared to the MS-RLS group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed higher Expanded Disability Status Scale and spinal lesions in MRI as risk factors for RLS in MS, while DMTs had no impact on RLS. Roughly a quarter of MS patients suffers from RLS, significantly impacting quality of life by poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness. RLS risk increases with physical disability and spinal lesions but is independent of DMT.

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Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Competing Interest Thomas Berger: has participated in meetings sponsored by and received honoraria (lectures, advisory boards, consultations) from pharmaceutical companies marketing treatments for multiple sclerosis: Almirall, Biogen, Bionorica, Celgene, MedDay, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Aventis/Genzyme, TG Therapeutics and TEVA. His institution has received financial support in the last 2 years by unrestricted research grants (Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi Aventis/Genzyme, Roche, TEVA) and for participation in clinical trials in multiple sclerosis sponsored by Alexion, Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Aventis/Genzyme, TEVA. Gabriel Bsteh: has participated in meetings sponsored by, received speaker honoraria or travel funding from Biogen, Celgene, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme and Teva, and received honoraria for consulting Biogen, Novartis, Roche and Teva. Fritz Leutmezer: has participated in meetings sponsored by, received speaker honoraria or travel funding or unrestricted scientific grants from Actelion, Biogen, Celgene, Med Day, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, Schering, and Teva. Tobias Monschein: has participated in meetings sponsored by or received travel funding from Biogen, Celgene, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme and Teva. Christian Schestak: declares no conflict of interest with respect to the study and data presented in this paper. Cornelia Schillerwein-Kral: declares no conflict of interest with respect to the study and data presented in this paper. Stefan Seidel: has participated in meetings sponsored by, received speaker honoraria or travel funding from UCB Pharma, Novartis, AOP Orphan and EliLilly.