What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to determine if restless legs syndrome contributes to a higher likelihood of erectile dysfunction compared to controls without RLS.

July 22, 2026Open Access

Association between restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

RGRafael Matos Vieira GordilhoUniversidade Federal da Bahia NBNilo Jorge Carvalho Leão BarretoUniversidade Federal da Bahia FSFelipe Pinho E. Albuquerque SilvaUniversidade Federal da Bahia

Key Points

This review aims to determine if restless legs syndrome contributes to a higher likelihood of erectile dysfunction compared to controls without RLS.
Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA 2020 protocol.
Included studies evaluating adults diagnosed with RLS and a control group without RLS.
Analyzed odds of erectile dysfunction among those with restless legs syndrome.
Patients with RLS have 70% higher odds of erectile dysfunction (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.52–1.91; p < 0.001).
Severe RLS patients had lower odds of erectile dysfunction compared to mild-moderate RLS (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.53–0.84; p = 0.0005).
Increased odds of severe erectile dysfunction were observed in RLS patients compared to controls (OR = 4.51; 95% CI: 1.52–13.33; p = 0.006).

Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether patients with RLS have increased odds of ED compared with non-RLS controls. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis analyzing the odds of ED in patients with RLS. We included studies that: (i) evaluated adults with a diagnosis of RLS established by the pre-established criteria; (ii) included a control group without RLS; and (iii) evaluated outcomes related to the odds of ED in patients with RLS. We followed the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Results This systematic review included a total sample of 33,740 participants. Patients with RLS had 70% higher odds of ED compared with non-RLS controls (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.52–1.91; p 0.05). Conclusion Individuals with RLS have 70% higher odds of ED compared with non-RLS controls. Severe ED was more frequent among patients with RLS, while no significant differences were observed for mild or moderate ED. These findings support ED screening in patients with RLS.

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