The relation between the quality of life and restless legs syndrome in patients undergoing hemodialysisis dialysis centers in ChaharMahal and Bakhtiari, 2011

The chronic renal failure and the subsequent hemodialysis and its consequent problems such as restless legs syndrome affect the individual’s quality of life through the changes they cause in his life style and health status. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between the quality of life and restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients.

In this descriptive –analytical study, 171patients who were undergoing to hemodialysis at hospitals of ChaharMahal and Bakhtiariprovenance selected via census sampling. The subjects divided into two groups; one suffering from the restless legs syndrome and the other without syndrome. Data was collected using WHO-QOL BREF quality of life questionnaire and restless legs syndrome questionnaire, then it was analyzed by the software SPSS 15 and independent statistical t-test.

The findings revealed that 98(57.3%) out of 171 hemodialysis patients, who were studied, suffered from restless legs syndrome and 73(%42.7) subjects were without syndrome. The average age in the group suffering the syndrome was 59.27 ± 16.86 and in the group without syndrome was 55.20 ± 17.95.However the difference between the average age in both groups was not statistically significant (p= 0.131).The average quality of life in the group suffering the syndrome was 32.82 ± 8.53and in the group without the syndrome was 39 ± 14.57. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).

regarding the result of the study, the average quality of life in hemodialysis patients is low. Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome also have lower quality of life. Therefore it is recommended that the quality of life of these patients be improved through taking