Author Interviews, Neurology / 08.04.2014
Restless Legs Syndrome Linked to Decreased Physical Function
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Xiang Gao, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Associate Epidemiologist
Brigham and Women's Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Gao: In this study including 12,556 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, we found that the participants with Restless Legs Syndrome at baseline had significantly lower physical function (PF) score 6 years later than those without RLS, after adjusting for potential confounders. The magnitude of difference in physical function score for RLS symptoms ≥15 times/month vs no Restless Legs Syndrome was more than that of a 5-year increase of age or moderate amount of smoking. We also found that having daily daytime sleepiness and sleep duration ≥9 hours/day were associated with lower mean physical function value than not having these symptoms .
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