Ding Qinglan, Xie Yuting, Koo Brian B, Hass Zachary, Wojeck Brian, Sico Jason J, Murray-Kolb Laura E, Bravata Dawn M, Zinchuk Andrey
School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
National Collaborating Center for Neurological Disorders Prevention, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, CHN.
Cureus. 2025 May 23;17(5):e84701. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84701. eCollection 2025 May.
Background Sleep is integral to cardiometabolic health. While there is emerging evidence linking sleep-related leg movements (SRLM) to diabetes mellitus (DM), the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the association between SRLM and DM prevalence in a national population-based cohort study in the United States (US), considering potential mediators like short sleep duration and inflammation and examining variations across age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Methods We analyzed data from 9,191 adults (aged ≥18 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2008. We assessed the frequency of SRLM (leg jerks and leg cramps) and diabetes prevalence (self-reported diagnosis, diabetes medication use, or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5%). Weighted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations, adjusting for demographic and clinical-related confounders. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore the roles of short sleep duration and inflammation (C-reactive protein levels). Results The study revealed that 1,278 (14%) participants have DM. SRLM was associated with a 72% increase in the odds of diabetes (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.06-2.81). The association is more pronounced in non-Hispanic White individuals, females, and adults aged 18-65. Short sleep duration and inflammation mediated 5.0% and 3.9% of this association, respectively. Conclusions SRLM is independently and linearly associated with increased prevalence of diabetes in a representative sample of the US adult population. Short sleep duration and inflammation mediated a small part of this association. Confirming the association in other samples and further investigation into its mechanisms are warranted to better understand the roles of the SRLM in the risk of diabetes.
背景 睡眠对心脏代谢健康至关重要。虽然有新证据表明与睡眠相关的腿部运动（SRLM）与糖尿病（DM）有关，但其潜在机制仍不清楚。本研究在美国一项基于全国人群的队列研究中调查SRLM与DM患病率之间的关联，考虑了潜在中介因素如短睡眠时间和炎症，并研究了年龄、性别和种族/民族之间的差异。方法 我们分析了2005 - 2008年美国国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES）中9191名成年人（年龄≥18岁）的数据。我们评估了SRLM的频率（腿部抽搐和腿部痉挛）以及糖尿病患病率（自我报告诊断、糖尿病药物使用或糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）≥6.5%）。使用加权逻辑回归模型评估关联，对人口统计学和临床相关混杂因素进行调整。进行中介分析以探讨短睡眠时间和炎症（C反应蛋白水平）的作用。结果 研究显示1278名（14%）参与者患有DM。SRLM与糖尿病患病几率增加72%相关（OR = 1.72，95% CI：1.06 - 2.81）。这种关联在非西班牙裔白人个体、女性和18 - 65岁成年人中更为明显。短睡眠时间和炎症分别介导了这种关联的5.0%和3.9%。结论 在代表性的美国成年人群样本中，SRLM与糖尿病患病率增加独立且呈线性相关。短睡眠时间和炎症介导了这种关联的一小部分。有必要在其他样本中证实这种关联并进一步研究其机制，以更好地理解SRLM在糖尿病风险中的作用。
