Özet:

Aim: To investigate the involvement of cardiac autonomy by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods: Patients with RLS and age/sex matched healthy controls were included in this prospective case-control study. The diagnosis of RLS was made according to the criteria determined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Demographic data and severity of disease were recorded. The HRV analysis was performed with a 24-hour electrocardiographic Holter monitoring in all patients and the control group. Results: Sixty five (50 female) patients and 58 (45 female) healthy individuals were enrolled into the study. Patients and control groups were similar for age and gender. No difference was found in the HRV analysis, except that the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) at night was lower when RLS patients and the control group were compared (p=0.03). The HRV analyzes were compared according to disease severity, SDNN at night was significantly different between groups (p=0.03). In the pairwise comparison, the difference between the severe and very severe groups was significant (p=0.01) and severe group was lower than very severe group. Conclusions: In the present study which evaluate the cardiac autonomic system with HRV in patients with RLS, a decrease in parasympathetic nervous system was found at night time.

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