https://doi.org/10.5812/numonthly.29527

Insomnia and Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital

authors:

avatar Roshanak Hasheminasab Zaware 1 , avatar Mohammad Hossein Mahmoodi Meymand 2 , avatar Mohsen Rezaeian 3 , avatar Niloofar Mohammadi Kamalabadi 2 , avatar Seyed-Ali Mostafavi 4 , avatar Mohammad Ali Abdolkarimi Dawarani 2 , avatar Reyhane Jome Yazdian 2 , avatar Reza Bidaki 5 , *

Specialist Internal Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran
Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Occupational Environmental Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IR Iran
Psychiatry Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University ‎of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran
Nephro-Urology Monthly: Vol.8, issue 1; e29527
published online: January 9, 2016
article type: Research Article
received: June 24, 2015
revised: August 29, 2015
accepted: November 8, 2015

how to cite: Hasheminasab Zaware R, Mahmoodi Meymand M H, Rezaeian M, Mohammadi Kamalabadi N, Mostafavi S, et al. Insomnia and Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital. Nephro-Urol Mon. 2016;8(1):e29527. https://doi.org/10.5812/numonthly.29527.

Abstract

Background:

Sleep is one of the most fundamental human needs; without any doubt sleep is even more essential for sick patients, especially for patients with chronic illnesses. Sleep disturbance may lead to anxiety and reduced quality of life. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor disorder accompanied by a strong desire to move the legs or other parts of the body, which can cause sleep disturbance. Its etiology is unknown, but increased urea and creatinine levels before dialysis, iron deficiency due to kidney failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are mentioned as causes.

Objectives:

This study is designed to examine the prevalence of insomnia and restless leg syndrome in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital.

Patients and Methods:

In this study we used two questionnaires to evaluate the presence of RLS and insomnia in ESRD patients who were undergoing hemodialysis treatment as kidney replacement therapy.

Results:

According to our results, 54.5% of patients were diagnosed with RLS, and of those 65.2% and 42.9% were women and men, respectively. RLS is seen more often among patients with blood group type A, but this result was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant correlation between RLS and a positive family history of RLS, between RLS and the number of hemodialysis treatments per week and also between RLS and the Insomnia Severity Index. Unlike previous studies, in this study we did not find any statistically significant correlation between RLS and biochemical factors such as serum iron, TIBC, BUN, creatinine, potassium, calcium and phosphorous levels.

Conclusions:

The frequency of RLS among our patients was remarkable and we conclude that all patients who are undergoing hemodialysis should be screened for RLS, which can assist in providing proper attention and treatment.

1. Background

Sleep is known as one of the most fundamental needs of humans (1). People with sleep disorders not only suffer from fatigue but also have defects in cellular repair, impaired memory and learning, increased anxiety and reduced quality of life (2). Restless leg syndrome is a sensory-motor disorder, which occurs with a strong desire to move the legs or other parts of the body. This can be accompanied by discomfort, pain, tingling and numbness in the affected area that can be exacerbated by rest and inactivity (3). This syndrome has a prevalence of 2%–15% and is seen particularly in middle age and old age (4). The etiology of RLS is unknown, but idiopathic (primary) and secondary restless leg syndrome are two of the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms. Primary restless leg syndrome is a central nervous system disorder, with psychological factors and stress playing a role in its intensity (5, 6). Increased urea and creatinine levels before dialysis and iron deficiency due to kidney failure have been mentioned as causes of the disease (7). Other underlying conditions and diseases associated with RLS include iron deficiency (3), folate deficiency (8), kidney failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD) (3). An increased urea and creatinine before dialysis have been noted as possible causes of increase in frequency of this syndrome (9). In other studies, iron deficiency due to kidney failure has been a suggested cause (10, 11). A high frequency of family history is seen in this disease that suggests the existence of a genetic factor in the primary form of the disease (12, 13). This syndrome causes confusion and inability to rest, which has negative impacts on quality of life such as lack of comfort, sleep disorders, fatigue and stress and secondarily undermines the individual’s performance and impacts social and occupational activities, as well as family life (14). Sleep disorders, such as changes in sleep structure, sleep apnea syndrome, periodic limb movements, restless leg syndrome, insomnia and increased daily sleep can be seen more in patients on dialysis than the normal population (15-17). It seems that these disorders have a negative effect on quality of life in hemodialysis patients, as well as their clinical outcome (18-20). Recent studies have expressed a potential connection between sleep deprivation, lack of sleep, sleep disorders and an increased mortality and reduced quality of life (21-23). The evaluation and treatment of insomnia, as an effective criterion for quality of life, should be a priority, because this treatment can improve the quality of life and can be associated with important clinical outcomes. Insomnia can also be a warning sign and a criterion for diseases and mental disorders that indicate the necessity of considering insomnia as an indicator of underlying disease (24). In a study by Kazemi et al. performed on patients in the internal and surgical wards, 49.1% of the patients stated that their sleep quality was reduced (1). Use of medications and special care are the principles of this syndrome’s treatment (25).

2. Objectives

Recently, many studies in dialysis clinics based on finding an explanation for RLS risk factors have been conducted, but since these studies have been widely variable, this study is designed to examine the prevalence of insomnia and restless leg syndrome in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

4. Results

Of 45 patients invited to participate, one refused to participate. Among the 44 patients who took part in this research project, 23 patients were women and 21 were men (Figure 1). The average score calculated for RLS in this population was 6.23±2.331, and according to the threshold (which was considered seven), 54.5% of participants were diagnosed with RLS (Figure 2).

Frequency of Gender of Study Participants
Frequency of Gender of Study Participants
Figure 1.

Frequency of Gender of Study Participants

Frequency of Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis
Frequency of Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis
Figure 2.

Frequency of Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Also, 29.5% of participants mentioned a family history of RLS. The average number of dialysis treatments per week in these patients was 2.51 ± 0.644. The most common blood group was group A, seen in13 patients and the least common was group AB, seen in three participants. Also, 88.2% of patients had a positive Rh blood group. Of the women who participated in this study, 65.2% had RLS, while this statistic was 42.9% for men. Although in accordance with results of this research and previous studies, the prevalence of this complication among women is higher than men, the difference is not significant (P < 0.05). Of patients with RLS, 29% had blood group A, blood group O constituted 23% of patients with RLS, and for blood groups B and AB this amount was much lower (Figure 3).

Frequency of Blood Groups in Patients Under Hemodialysis
Frequency of Blood Groups in Patients Under Hemodialysis
Figure 3.

Frequency of Blood Groups in Patients Under Hemodialysis

Based on the results of this study, no significant correlation was found between the incidence of RLS and blood group. This result was also true for having RLS and the Rh blood group. Of the study participants, 29.5% reported a family history of RLS and 45.8% of this group had RLS. Also, it should be noted that 90% of those without a family history of RLS, did not have RLS. The association between RLS and family history was considerably significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between RLS and the factor of age or between the level of BUN, creatinine, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron or ferritin. However, the association between RLS and the number of dialysis treatments (P < 0.05) and the Insomnia Severity Index was significant (P < 0.01). Also, the Insomnia Severity Index and creatinine levels, as well as the number of dialysis treatments were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). We found no other significant relationship between the Insomnia Severity Index and other factors.

5. Discussion

The results of this study show a frequency of 54.5% for restless leg syndrome in patients on dialysis in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital, which is remarkable, whereas, this prevalence is reported as 28% by Kim et al. (29), 8.45% by Siddiqui S and colleagues in England (30), 10.18% by Curgunlu A and colleagues (31), 14.5% by Soyoral in Turkey (32) and 20.3% by Salman in Syria (33). The prevalence in some other areas was reported as follows: 22.96% in Central Serbia (34), 14% in Budapest (35), 21.5% in Italy (36), 1.5% to 6.6% in India (37, 38) and 14.8% in Brazil (39). In Iran, the reported prevalence by Salimi-Pour in Bushehr (7) (33.1%) and by Molla Hosseini in Tehran (61.5%) (40) was less than the result of the present study.

The result of this study did not show any relation between iron levels and restless leg syndrome and is congruent with Shahidi’s study (14) but does not match O’Keefe’s results (41). The type of patients under study, as Collado-Seidel verifies, can be a justifying factor (42).

This study showed that blood group can be associated with RLS, especially blood group type A. This result does not fit Shahidi’s study (14) that considered RLS related to the Rh blood group. According to this study, serum creatinine level was not correlated with restless leg syndrome, which is not consistent with Soyoral’s study (32) in Turkey. It can be concluded from this study that the occurrence of restless leg syndrome in patients on hemodialysis in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital is considerable. On the other hand, there is no significant relationship between blood biochemical factors such as iron, urea, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, creatinine, TIBC, TIBC/serum iron and restless leg syndrome. Thus, we concluded that all patients on chronic hemodialysis should be evaluated in terms of restless leg syndrome and effective therapeutic measures should be taken to improve their quality of life.

Acknowledgements

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