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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Restless legs syndrome in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease

Garrick A Applebee1, Ann P Guillot, Catherine C Schuman

  • 1University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. garrick.applebee@vtmednet.org

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|December 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) affects 35% of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early screening for RLS in pediatric CKD patients is recommended, as it is more common than in the general population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Sleep disorders are common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) prevalence and impact in pediatric CKD are not well-understood.
  • Previous research indicates a higher incidence of sleep disturbances in CKD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in children across various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • To evaluate the impact of RLS on sleep patterns and daytime functioning in pediatric CKD patients.
  • To compare RLS prevalence in pediatric CKD to the general population.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted with 26 pediatric patients with varying stages of CKD.
  • Data collected included RLS assessment, sleep schedules, and daytime sleepiness.
  • Clinic-based and telephone survey methods were utilized.

Main Results:

  • 35% of children with CKD met the criteria for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
  • The majority of children with RLS were in CKD stages 1-4.
  • No significant differences in sleep schedule or daytime sleepiness were observed between children with and without RLS.

Conclusions:

  • There is an increased prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general population.
  • Routine screening for RLS symptoms is advisable for all children diagnosed with any stage of CKD.
  • Further research may explore the specific mechanisms linking CKD and RLS in children.

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