Restless Legs Syndrome During Pregnancy and Preterm Birth in Women Referred to Health Centers of Ardabil

BACKGROUND: The physiological changes of pregnancy may predispose females to develop restless legs syndrome (RLS). Studies evaluating outcomes of RLS symptoms in pregnancy are scarce. OBJECTIVES: We examined the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with and without restless legs syndrome (RLS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study included 231 pregnant women attending Ardabil health care centers for prenatal care and delivery in the period of 2010, without any risk factors for preterm delivery and low birth weight. The instruments used were questionnaires about RLS, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), demographic data, and hemoglobin values. Data were analyzed via SPSS software using descriptive statistics, the t-test, χ2, Fisher’s exact test, Pearson’s correlation, and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: RLS complicated 43.7 percent of pregnancies. Sleepiness (ESS score > 8) was reported in 36.4% of the subjects with preterm birth and 35.9% of the term group. No significant correlation was found between the ESS score and the term and preterm groups (P = 0.843). The prevalence of preterm birth in the subjects with and without RLS was 69.7% and 30.3%, respectively: As a result, it significantly increased in the RLS group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated by RLS are at increased risk for preterm birth. The improved sleep health of pregnant women could decrease pregnancy complications.