Restless legs syndrome in migraine patients: prevalence and severity. (21st March 2016) - van Oosterhout, W. P. J.
Abstract : Background and purpose: Our aim was to study not only the prevalence but more importantly the severity and the correlation between sleep quality and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a large population of well‐defined migraine patients as poor sleep presumably triggers migraine attacks. Methods: In a large cross‐sectional and observational study, data on migraine and RLS were collected from 2385 migraine patients (according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders ICHD‐IIIb) and 332 non‐headache controls. RLS severity (International RLS Study Group severity scale) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were assessed. Risk factors for RLS and RLS severity were calculated using multivariable‐adjusted regression models. Results: Restless legs syndrome prevalence in migraine was higher than in controls (16.9% vs. 8.7%; multivariable‐adjusted odds ratio 1.83; 95% confidence interval 1.18–2.86; P = 0.008) and more severe (adjusted severity score 14.5 ± 0.5 vs. 12.0 ± 1.1; P = 0.036). Poor sleepers were overrepresented amongst migraineurs (50.1% vs. 25.6%; P < 0.001). Poorer sleep quality was independently associated with RLS occurrence (odds ratio 1.08; P < 0.001) and RLS severity ( P < 0.001) in migraine patients. Conclusion: Restless legs syndrome is not only twice as prevalent but also more severe in migraine patients, and associated with decreased sleep quality.