Investigation of the Frequency of Restless Legs Syndrome in Adults and the Level of Coronavirus Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic Process

Meryem Köroğlu, Aydan Çevi̇k Varol, Eda Çeli̇k Güzel

Keywords: Restless legs syndrome, coronavirus, anxiety

Aim:

Coronavirus may worsen or trigger RLS symptoms in susceptible individuals. The aim of the study was to investigated the frequency of RLS in adult patients, whether RLS complaints change with the pandemic, and the relationship between RLS and coronavirus anxiety.

Method:

350 patients aged 20-65 years who applied to Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Medical Faculty Hospital Family Medicine Polyclinic between 28 May-29 November 2021 were included in the study. The sociodemographic data of the patients, the treatments they used, their chronic diseases, RLS diagnostic criteria, RLS severity scale, Covid-19 infection and vaccination status, whether RLS symptoms changed with the pandemic, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were investigated.

Results:

In the study, it was determined that as the coronavirus anxiety increased, the scores on the RLS severity scale also increased. The frequency of RLS and Coronavirus anxiety was found to be 42.6%-20.8%, respectively. In our study, it was seen that 30-39 year olds were more anxious than 40 years old. It was found that women have restless legs 1.2 times more often than men. RLS severity scale scores of those who graduated from high school or below are higher than those who graduated from a master's degree or above.

Conclusions:

As a result, as the anxiety rate increases, the severity of RLS increases with age, it is seen higher in young people, and RLS is more common in blue-collar workers, those with chronic diseases. RLS will often help primary care physicians with increased non-pharmacological awareness to be more successful in treatment without the need for drug therapy.

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