The Impact of RLS on Quality of Life (QoL)

Quality of Life (QoL) is often measured in relation to specific aspects of a patient’s overall health. It looks beyond the symptoms and takes into account bodily pain, physical functioning, vitality, social functioning, and mood.¹

The effects of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) on patients’ quality of life can extend beyond the uncontrollable urge to move their legs; as a result of involuntary leg movement, RLS patients find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Constant sleepless nights can lead to fatigue and loss of energy which can make a patient unable to fulfil their job. RLS patients experience this loss of energy, but are unable to get the sleep they need to overcome this. They end up unable to concentrate and focus. Tiredness together with the inability to perform tasks requiring longer periods of inactivity, such as during travel on long journeys, or simply sitting down to eat a meal with their family, can leave people with RLS depressed (click here for symptoms of RLS). RLS, in fact, has a higher negative impact on the quality of life of affected patients than do some of the other serious chronic diseases.¹ This is demonstrated in the graph below. A study showed that the total quality of life burden* of RLS was greater than that for type-2 diabetes, depression or osteoarthritis.¹ These conditions, such as type-2 diabetes have a well-documented, negative impact on QoL, but RLS has an even more adverse impact.¹

In people with moderate to severe RLS symptoms their reduced quality of life has also been found to be comparable to those suffering with hypertension, and other cardiovascular conditions, including congestive heart failure and prior myocardial infarction.² (Click here for more statistics on RLS.)

RLS, when very severe, can destroy the ability to rest or get adequate sleep. These RLS sufferers find that every afternoon and evening they are driven to be active, despite fatigue and a major loss of energy.

Adapted from Allen RP et al. Restless Legs Syndrome prevalence and impact. Arch Int Medicine 2005; 165: 1286-92.
*Total burden is defined by comparing short-form scores of RLS patients to the U.S. general population.

Patient video diaries

RLS patients speak about the impact of the condition on their sleep, working life, travel or social life.

References

1. Kushida et al. Burden of Restless Legs Syndrome on health–related quality of life. Qual Life Res 2006; 16(4): 617–624.
2. Abetz L et al. Evaluating the quality of life of patients with Restless Legs Syndrome. Clin Ther 2004; 26(6): 925–935.