Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2015 Jun;22(1):20-24. 10.14401/KASMED.2015.22.1.20.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

• Yang WS
• Yoo JH
• Cheon SM
• Kim SH
• Choe BM
• Kim WJ
• Bang YR
• Park JH

• KMID: 2317597
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14401/KASMED.2015.22.1.20

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder in adults with diabetes. This study investigated the frequency of RLS and clinical correlations in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
METHODS
This study included 55 consecutive patients (21 males, age 12.6 +/- 3.4 years) with type I diabetes that were regularly treated at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology. RLS was diagnosed by intensive interviews which also included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and International RLS Rating Scale (IRLSRS). Patients also received neurological examinations and laboratory tests for diabetes, iron metabolism and renal function.
RESULTS
Thirteen patients (23.6%, 6 males) were compatible for the diagnostic criteria of RLS. None of the RLS patients showed abnormal findings in neurological evaluations and 7 patients had familial history of RLS. Demographic and laboratory findings were not different between the patients with or without RLS. The RLS group showed significantly increased ESS and IRLSRS scores.
CONCLUSION
RLS was prevalent in children and adolescents with type I diabetes. The association between RLS and diabetes-related laboratory findings requires further investigation.

Keyword

Sleep; Restless legs syndrome; Diabetes; Children; Adolescent

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Adult
Child*
Endocrinology
Humans
Iron
Male
Metabolism
Neurologic Examination
Restless Legs Syndrome*
Iron