Abstract

Objective: To assess the frequency and the risk factors associated with restless leg syndrome (RLS) in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Study Design: Cross-sectional Observational study. Setting: Department of Nephrology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: 1st of January 2020 till 30th of June 2020. Material & Methods: We enrolled the patients in this study after written consent and were assessed for RLS according to the International RLS Study Group criteria. Serum samples were collected for hemoglobulin level, parathyroid hormone level, vitamin D, serum urea and creatinine, and serum ferritin. The sampling technique used was non-probability, variables were recorded as mean and standard deviation and frequency. Results: Ninety-four patients were included in this study; men comprised 65.95% of the patients, and women comprised 34.04%. The mean age in the study was 45.51±13.29 years. Diabetes mellitus was the most common cause (47.87%). The mean duration on the hemodialysis was 5.21 years, and the mean vitamin D level was 24.36 mg/dl. RLS was observed in 26 (27.65%) patients and was significantly associated with low vitamin D and time duration on hemodialysis. Conclusion: The RLS seems to be a common consequence of ESRD, and it has a significant impact on the ESRD patients' everyday lives and sleeping patterns. There is a definitive link between RLS and hemodialysis duration; however, more large multicenter studies are still needed to establish and investigate the etiology.