Center for Biomedicine, European Academy Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC) (affiliated institute of the University of Lübeck), Bolzano, Italy.
Eur J Neurol. 2014;21(1):72-8. doi: 10.1111/ene.12244. Epub 2013 Jul 30.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs accompanied by paresthesia and/or dysesthesia that begins or worsens in the evening and night and that is partially or totally relieved by movement. Many studies have investigated the association between RLS and cardiovascular risk factors, particularly hypertension, leading to conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the association between RLS and hypertension considering also other cardiovascular risk factors that could act as confounders.
In all, 1709 participants of an on-going adult population-based study performed in South Tyrol, northern Italy, were enrolled. RLS was assessed through face-to-face interviews according to current International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria. The presence of hypertension was self-reported and determined by questionnaires administered by trained study nurses.
The association between RLS and hypertension was not significant after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, history of myocardial infarction, raised blood lipids and body mass index (odds ratio 1.24, 95% CI 0.85-1.80, P = 0.271).
Despite the small sample size of this study, RLS and hypertension were not associated in our adult population after adjustment for possible confounding factors. The presence of other cardiovascular risk factors could play a role as a confounder of this association.
不宁腿综合征（RLS）是一种与睡眠相关的运动障碍，其特征为腿部不可抑制的运动冲动，伴有感觉异常和/或感觉迟钝，这种症状通常在傍晚和夜间开始或加重，通过运动可以部分或完全缓解。许多研究已经调查了 RLS 与心血管危险因素之间的关联，特别是高血压，但其结果存在冲突。本研究旨在评估 RLS 与高血压之间的关联，同时考虑到其他可能作为混杂因素的心血管危险因素。
本研究共纳入了意大利北部南蒂罗尔地区正在进行的一项成人人群基础研究中的 1709 名参与者。通过面对面访谈，根据当前的国际不宁腿综合征研究组诊断标准评估 RLS。高血压的存在通过自我报告和经过培训的研究护士进行问卷调查来确定。
在调整年龄、性别、糖尿病、心肌梗死史、血脂升高和体重指数（比值比 1.24，95%置信区间 0.85-1.80，P = 0.271）等可能的混杂因素后，RLS 与高血压之间无显著关联。
尽管本研究的样本量较小，但在调整了其他心血管危险因素作为混杂因素后，在我们的成年人群中，RLS 与高血压之间没有关联。其他心血管危险因素的存在可能是这种关联的混杂因素。
