The Long-Term Psychiatric and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep

Benjamin Wipper; John W Winkelman

doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2021.02.005

The Long-Term Psychiatric and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep

Sleep Med Clin. 2021 Jun;16(2):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2021.02.005. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Authors

Benjamin Wipper¹, John W Winkelman²

Affiliations

¹ Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, One Bowdoin Square, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
² Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, One Bowdoin Square, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: jwwinkelman@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 33985653
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2021.02.005

Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor neurological disorder that is associated with high levels of distress and sleep disturbance. Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence suggests that individuals suffering from RLS may be at an increased risk of certain psychiatric illnesses and cardiovascular diseases. There also is evidence for increased mortality rates in RLS patients, although contrasting results do exist. Periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS), repetitive leg movement observed in most RLS patients, and sleep disturbance may mediate the relationship between RLS and long-term morbidity. This article summarizes the literature investigating the potential consequences of both RLS and PLMS.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Depression; Morbidity; Mortality; Periodic limb movements of sleep; Psychiatric illness; Restless legs syndrome; Suicide.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / epidemiology*
Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / mortality
Restless Legs Syndrome / epidemiology*
Restless Legs Syndrome / mortality
Risk Assessment