Restless legs syndrome and sleep quality among adult sickle cell disease patients

Objective The purpose of this study is to determine and compare the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) between adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and non-SCD anemia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2013 to July 2014. Patients with SCD and non-SCD anemia were recruited from a hematology clinic at a large university hospital. Patients with secondary RLS were excluded. Data were collected on demographic features, clinical evaluations, laboratory tests, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, RLS symptoms using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Criteria, severity of RLS using the International Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale, and daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results The study sample consisted of 44 patients with SCD and 45 with non-SCD anemia. The two groups were comparable in age, gender, body mass index, smoking habit, and comorbidities. Poor sleep quality was found in 63% of the SCD group compared to 53% of the non-SCD group. The prevalence of RLS among SCD group and non-SCD group was 13.6% (6/44) and 8.8% (4/45), respectively. These differences, however, were not statistically significant, p > 0.05. Excessive daytime sleepiness was also similar in both groups, with the rate being 20.5 and 17.8% in the SCD and non-SCD groups, respectively. Conclusion Our study revealed that poor sleep quality and RLS were both common among adult patients with SCD; however, they did not differ significantly from patients with non-SCD anemia.