Prevalence and associations of post-stroke restless legs syndrome: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can emerge or worsen after a stroke. This study examines the prevalence of RLS in participants who experienced a stroke and explores its associations with other clinical variables. METHODS: Patients admitted with stroke were interviewed telephonically for symptoms of RLS. Demographic data, medical history, stroke characteristics, and laboratory parameters were extracted from records. Among patients reporting RLS, its temporal relationship with stroke was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 107 participants were included. Middle cerebral artery stroke and ischemic stroke were predominant. RLS was reported in 13.1% participants and was bilateral in all cases. The majority (79%) of RLS cases were males, with a mean age of 50 ± 13.03 years. The distribution of demographic variables, comorbidities, and stroke characteristics were comparable between participants with and without RLS. Participants with RLS had a higher neutrophil proportion and lower proportions of lymphocytes and eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: Although stroke characteristics and comorbidities showed no association with the development of RLS in our study, further research with larger sample sizes and improved generalizability is required to draw definitive conclusions. Increased neutrophil and reduced lymphocyte proportions could suggest enhanced inflammation as a possible theoretical contributor to the development of RLS after stroke. Monitoring and following up of such patients for RLS and its management could ultimately improve stroke outcomes.