Restless legs syndrome and health-related quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder that may exacerbate many of the symptoms and consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS), and may have further implications for health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The present study examined the relationships among RLS, symptoms and HRQOL in people with MS. Participants with MS (n = 275) completed the Cambridge-Hopkins Restless Legs Syndrome Questionnaire, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Scale, the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Patient Determined Disease Steps. There were 74 (26.9%) persons with MS who had RLS (MS + RLS). The MS + RLS group reported worse physical and psychological HRQOL (p = 0.020 and p = 0.017, respectively) and greater perceived fatigue (p = 0.006) and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.042) than the MS-only group. Within the MS + RLS group, RLS severity was associated with physical (r = 0.43) and psychological (r = 0.46) HRQOL, sleep quality (r = 0.38), perceived fatigue (r = 0.28), depression (r = 0.38) and anxiety (r = 0.28). The relationships between RLS severity and the domains of HRQOL were attenuated when accounting for fatigue, depression and/or anxiety. Worse RLS severity was associated with reduced HRQOL, which was accounted for by fatigue, depression and anxiety.