THE FREQUENCY AND EVALUATION OF RISK FACTORS WITH RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN A HIGHLY COMPLEXITY HOSPITAL

• Grant number: 23/13556-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Dalva Lucia Rollemberg Poyares
• Grantee: Christian Makoto Suga
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder characterized by the urge or irresistible feeling to move the lower or upper limbs during periods of rest or before going to sleep, affecting sleep quality. There are only a few national studies regarding the epidemiology of RLS, with a prevalence estimate of approximately 6% of the adult population (Eckeli et al., 2011). There are no epidemiological data on RLS in hospital or outpatient settings in Brazil. Studies addressing the association between RLS and comorbidities burden are scant and somewhat different. Thus, in view of the scarcity of epidemiological data at national level, the underdiagnosis of the pathology and the impairment in quality of life caused by RLS, it is necessary to update this information, as well as the characterization of RLS associated factors and prognosis among patients in a high complexity public hospital. Objectives: The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of RLS in a highly complex University Hospital. Other objectives are to evaluate and compare clinical data and the presence of comorbidities between the group with patients with RLS and the control group, using data obtained from the global clinical assessment, laboratory tests and the Charlson comorbidity index adjusted for age; and to evaluate and compare sleep quality between the two groups using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Insomnia Severity Index (IGI); and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.Methodology: Study settings: Hospital São Paulo (HSP), as approved by the Ethics Committee of UNIFESP. Initially, we will evaluate hospitalized patients from the general enfermary unit, and then those who will be admitted in the next 3 months. After accepting the Informed Consent Form (ICF) and clearly explaining the protocol proposal, the criteria of The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) for RLS will be applied to all participants. Also, data regarding the reason for hospitalization, comorbidities, previous and current diagnoses, sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); and Epworth Sleepiness Scale), medications, personal and family histories, pathological conditions, habits and previous surgeries/medical procedures. The calculation of the Charlson comorbidity index will be obtained through the analysis of their comorbidities. It is expected that the number of patients will be about 150 (N), considering only the HSP medical clinic ward, its available number of beds, its occupancy rate and its turnover.