Clinical characteristics and associated comorbidities in diabetic patients with restless legs syndrome

RLS, despite being a common entity, is often underdiagnosed and appears to be a serious problem from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. There have been few studies primarily concerned with the clinical characteristics of RLS in diabetic subjects. Those published have emanated largely from neurological referral centres rather than metabolic departments. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with RLS among persons with diabetes.

We have performed a retrospective study of all diabetic inpatients with RLS who were seen in the Metabolic Division at "S. Biagio" Hospital, Marsala, over a 18 months period. A detailed history, blood laboratory profile and an electrophysiological evaluation were obtained for each patient.

During the period of the survey RLS was identified in 23 patients. These patients were found to have a poorly controlled diabetes and had increased associated comorbidities: they showed an high prevalence of diabetic neuropathy (96%) and metabolic syndrome (74%). Moreover, median duration of RLS symptoms onset was 2.8 years.

RLS is a serious and not uncommon problem among patients with diabetes mellitus. This syndrome is closely related to diabetic neuropathy and probably to metabolic factors in its pathogenesis. Diagnosis of RLS is often delayed and because it can be effectively treated, a better education of the general medical community toward greater awareness of the syndrome is necessary.