Restless legs syndrome in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease

Sleep disorders have been shown to be more prevalent in adults and children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and on dialysis. To date, the prevalence and impact of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in various stages of CKD has not been evaluated. The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of RLS in children with CKD in different stages, and to evaluate its impact on sleep and daytime functioning. We conducted a clinic-based or telephone survey of 26 patients in varying stages of CKD to assess for RLS, sleep schedule, and daytime sleepiness. Thirty-five percent of children met criteria for RLS, the majority being in CKD stages 1-4. There were no significant differences seen in sleep schedule and daytime sleepiness between those children with or without RLS. We found that there is an increased prevalence of RLS in children with CKD compared to the general population. This suggests that children with all stages of CKD should be routinely screened for RLS symptoms.