Razan Alabdulqader, Raghad Alqahtani, Khadija Alsunaikh, Sara Almousa, Ammar Alsalem, Alia Alokley
{"title":"Prevalence and Risk Factors of Restless Legs Syndrome among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study.","authors":"Razan Alabdulqader, Raghad Alqahtani, Khadija Alsunaikh, Sara Almousa, Ammar Alsalem, Alia Alokley","doi":"10.4103/aam.aam_232_24","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor condition that affects the quality of sleep for those who have it. The diagnosis is made according to the consensus criteria by the National Institute of Health panel as follows: \"(i) a strong desire to move one's legs, usually in response to an unpleasant sensation; (ii) a stronger urge in the evening and at night; (iii) movement usually satisfies the urge; and (iv) rest increases the urge.\" This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of RLS among medical students in Saudi Arabia; furthermore, the severity and impact of RLS on sleep status.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2024 in medical students in Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and thirty-one students (233 female and 98 male) participated and completed an online consented questionnaire to detect the prevalence of RLS and associated risk factors including medical comorbidities, smoking, and caffeine intake based on criteria proposed by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Furthermore, the severity and impact of RLS on sleep status were studied using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the RLS rating scale, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The frequency of RLS among medical students is 20.2%. The severity of RLS reported in 23.9% of the students with mild-to-severe rates. About 40.3% of students with RLS had daytime fatigue and 33.4% had sleep disturbances. About 64.1% of medical students who suffer from RLS have associated medical comorbidities including iron-deficiency anemia, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Thirty-seven percent are smokers and 42.9% of students who had 3-4 cups of coffee daily had RLS compared to 18.6% of others who did not.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>RLS has a significant prevalence among medical students, in Saudi Arabia. RLS is highly associated with sleeping disturbance and daytime fatigue. Caffeine and smoking are considered risk factors for RLS.</p>","PeriodicalId":7938,"journal":{"name":"Annals of African Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annals of African Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_232_24","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Restless Legs Syndrome among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study.
Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor condition that affects the quality of sleep for those who have it. The diagnosis is made according to the consensus criteria by the National Institute of Health panel as follows: "(i) a strong desire to move one's legs, usually in response to an unpleasant sensation; (ii) a stronger urge in the evening and at night; (iii) movement usually satisfies the urge; and (iv) rest increases the urge." This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of RLS among medical students in Saudi Arabia; furthermore, the severity and impact of RLS on sleep status.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2024 in medical students in Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and thirty-one students (233 female and 98 male) participated and completed an online consented questionnaire to detect the prevalence of RLS and associated risk factors including medical comorbidities, smoking, and caffeine intake based on criteria proposed by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Furthermore, the severity and impact of RLS on sleep status were studied using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the RLS rating scale, respectively.
Results: The frequency of RLS among medical students is 20.2%. The severity of RLS reported in 23.9% of the students with mild-to-severe rates. About 40.3% of students with RLS had daytime fatigue and 33.4% had sleep disturbances. About 64.1% of medical students who suffer from RLS have associated medical comorbidities including iron-deficiency anemia, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Thirty-seven percent are smokers and 42.9% of students who had 3-4 cups of coffee daily had RLS compared to 18.6% of others who did not.
Conclusion: RLS has a significant prevalence among medical students, in Saudi Arabia. RLS is highly associated with sleeping disturbance and daytime fatigue. Caffeine and smoking are considered risk factors for RLS.
期刊介绍：
The Annals of African Medicine is published by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria and the Annals of African Medicine Society. The Journal is intended to serve as a medium for the publication of research findings in the broad field of Medicine in Africa and other developing countries, and elsewhere which have relevance to Africa. It will serve as a source of information on the state of the art of Medicine in Africa, for continuing education for doctors in Africa and other developing countries, and also for the publication of meetings and conferences. The journal will publish articles I any field of Medicine and other fields which have relevance or implications for Medicine.
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