Prevalence of restless leg syndrome and cutaneous manifestations among nondialysis dependent chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition characterized by feelings of unpleasant sensations in limbs. RLS in patients with chronic kidney disease has substantial effect on quality of life. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can also present with various cutaneous manifestations which can be helpful in early diagnosis of CKD. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of cutaneous manifestations and RLS among nondialysis CKD patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 CKD patients presenting in nephrology outpatient of a hospital in Pakistan from June 10, 2024, to November 10, 2024. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. RLS was diagnosed using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria, and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Skin manifestations were diagnosed by qualified dermatologist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The Chi-square test was used to assess significant differences among groups.

RESULTS

RLS was reported among 34 (17%) of nondialysis CKD patients. Almost half of RLS patients 19 (55.88%) were categorized as suffering from moderate degree of RLS. It was more prevalent among women 23 (24.46%), diabetics 21 (23.07%) and patients with advance kidney disease 13 (stage V = 37.14%). Skin manifestations were observed among 121 (60.5%) participants. Commonly reported manifestations were pallor (73.55%), xerosis (66.11%), and fungal infections (63.63%).

CONCLUSIONS

RLS is a considerable problem in nondialysis CKD patients and cutaneous abnormalities are frequently observed in these patients. Female gender, diabetes and advanced CKD stage make the patients more susceptible to RLS.