Restless legs syndrome in adolescents: relationship with sleep quality, cardiorespiratory fitness and body fat.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and sleep quality in a sample of adolescents.

METHODS: One hundred fifty seven volunteer adolescents (16.6 ± 0.7 yrs) participated in the study. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburg sleep quality index. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

RESULTS: The prevalence of RLS was 5.1%. The adolescents with RLS were found to exhibit significantly higher body fat levels (p=0.019) and poorer sleep quality score (p=0.000) compared with their free-RLS counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with RLS are subjects of higher body fat and impaired sleep quality compared with adolescents without RLS. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of RLS is essential in the adolescents.