Prevalence and determinants of restless leg syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Pakistan

Abstract Background and aims Restless legs syndromes (RLS) are intrinsic sleeping disorder and its prevalence rate is 10–15% in general population but it is observed that prevalence rate is different in diabetes patients. Current study aims to find prevalence and determinants of RLS in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Pakistan. Method A multicenter cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 388 diabetes patients attending daily diabetes clinics and teaching hospitals in Pakistan's twin city between August 2019 and February 2020. The chi-square test and linear regression were used to detect RLS-related factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results The prevalence of RLS found was; 3.1% patients with diabetes were suffering from very severe RLS, 23.5% from severe RLS, 34% from moderate RLS, 21.1% from mild RLS and 18.3% from non-RLS. Gender, age, education, blood glucose fasting (BSF), blood glucose random (BSR) and HBA1c were found to be significant predictors of RLS in patients with diabetes. Conclusion Policy makers can develop local interventions to curb the growing RLS prevalence by keeping in control the risk factors of RLS in people living with type 2 diabetes.