Sleep Quality and Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Özet

Introduction: We aimed to investigate restless leg syndrome (RLS) prevalence and sleep quality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to explore the association between RLS and measures of disease activity and physical function in AS. Methods: Twenty (5 female, 15 male) consecutive patients with AS and 20 (5 female, 15 male) healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. RLS was diagnosed by International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG-2003). Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), where scores >5 indicated poor sleep quality. Results: Prevalence of RLS was 55% (11 patients) in patients with AS. The mean RLS disability value was 21 (SD, 7.9). The modified Schober test levels were significantly higher (p=0.011) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) scores were significantly lower (p=0.016) in the RLS group than in the non-RLS group. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores were lower in the RLS group than in the non-RLS group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.16). Sleep quality was poor in 12 patients [PSQI score=7.09 (SD, 3.67)]. Discussion and Conclusion: We emphasized that it is important to determine the existence of RLS and poor sleep quality in patients with AS. However, further examination by applying the diagnostic criteria for RLS and PSQI in more number of patients with AS will be useful.