J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 May;53(3):162-170.

Relationship of Limb Movements during Sleep with Nocturnal Sleep Parameters in the Community-Dwelling Elderly with Sleep Complaints

• Lee J
• Jang KH
• Cho SM
• Lee JH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to examine the differences in subjective sleep quality and objective sleep parameters between groups with different severities of limb movements during sleep in elderly persons with sleep complaints.
METHODS
We recruited adult subjects with sleep complaints from four areas in Gangwon-do. Nocturnal polysomnography studies were conducted for 159 subjects at Kangwon National University Hospital. A total of 72 subjects older than 60 years were finally selected, and we classified them into three groups according to the limb movement index (LMI) : 29 subjects with LMI below 15, 21 subjects with LMI between 15 and 44, and 22 subjects with LMI above 44.
RESULTS
The proportion of existing restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms differed between the three groups, but was not statistically significant (p=0.051). No difference in nocturnal sleep parameters was observed between the three groups. In the total group, the limb movement arousal index showed positive correlation with respiratory arousal index (r=0.252, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
In elderly persons with sleep complaints, a greater LMI severity was associated with a tendency of higher comorbidity of RLS. Frequent arousals due to limb movements were not associated with a greater severity of limb movements during sleep severity, but with increased arousals due to respiratory events.

Keyword

Limb movements during sleep; The elderly; RLS; Sleep parameter; Arousal index

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged*
Arousal
Comorbidity
Extremities*
Gangwon-do
Humans
Polysomnography
Restless Legs Syndrome

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