0698 Exploring Age- and Sex-Specific Changes in PLMS in RLS: An Emphasis on Postmenopausal Women

Introduction This study aimed to investigate whether women experiencing restless legs syndrome (RLS) undergo distinct changes in periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) during the post-menopausal period, using an age threshold of >50 years as a proxy, in comparison to men of the same age. The assessment of leg movement activity during sleep employed a method that utilized indexes specifically designed for evaluating leg movement periodicity. Methods We enrolled a total of 103 participants, 36 of them were aged 18-50 years, comprising 19 men (median age: 40 years) and 17 women (median age: 37 years). Additionally, 67 participants were >50 years old, including 24 men (median age: 66.6 years) and 43 women (median age: 60.0 years). Full night PSG were obtained in all subjects which were scored following standard criteria. Results Significant differences were not observed between men in the two age groups. However, in women, a noteworthy and statistically significant increase in the periodicity index was evident in the older group, accompanied by a decrease in isolated leg movements. The intermovement interval graphs revealed a clear age-related enhancement of PLMS in women, particularly in the 16-22 second range, surpassing the changes observed in men. These findings remained consistent when the analysis was replicated by comparing subjects aged 18-45 years with those aged >55 years. Conclusion Our results underscore the clinical relevance of evaluating PLMS in postmenopausal women, as these changes are likely associated with the hormonal fluctuations characteristic of this life stage. Translationally, recognizing and addressing PLMS in postmenopausal women is imperative for optimizing their sleep health and mitigating potential health risks associated with sleep disturbances. This study contributes to the broader understanding of RLS and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions in this specific demographic group. Support (if any) This study was partially supported by a fund from the Italian Ministry of Health “Ricerca Corrente” (RC n. 2779779) (Drs. Ferri, Lanza, and Lanuzza).