Abstract: Objective  To explore the risk factors for restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).  Methods  The clinical data of 169 MHD patients treated in the hemodialysis unit of Shihezi People's Hospital from June 2021 to July 2022 were recruited. Clinical parameters were compared between group A (with RLS) and group B (without RLS). The correlations between the clinical data and RLS were analyzed by univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression.  Results  A total of 169 MHD patients were included in this study, and 66 patients had RLS with a RLS prevalence of 39.05%.  Comparisons of clinical data showed that age  (t=-2.297, P=0.022), dialysis age  (t=-2.938, P=0.003), hemoglobin (t=-2.205, P=0.027), serum creatinine (t=3.309, P=0.001), blood phosphorus (t=5.732, P=0.002), blood magnesium (t=-4.070, P＜0.001), serum iron (t=-3.545, P＜0.001), PTH (t=-4.038, P＜0.001), β2-microglobulin (t=-3.655, P＜0.001) and ferritin (t=-2.291, P=0.022) were statistically different between group A and group B. Univariate logistic regression found that age (OR=0.976, 95% CI 0.952~1.000, P=0.046), dialysis age (OR=1.019, 95% CI 1.009~1.029, P<0.001), hemoglobin (OR=0.976, 95% CI 0.957~0.995, P=0.012), blood magnesium (OR=13.134, 95% CI 2.561~67.366, P=0.002), PTH (OR=1.002, 95% CI 1.001~1.003, P=0.001), β2-microglobulin (OR=1.008, 95% CI 1.002~1.013, P=0.010) and ferritin (OR=0.998, 95% CI 0.996~1.000, P=0.015) were associated with the presence of RLS. Multivariate logistic regression showed that longer dialysis age (β=1.414, P=0.048), higher PTH (β=0.012, P=0.035), higher β2-micrglobulin (β=0.013, P=0.014) and lower ferritin (β=-0.091, P=0.004) were the independent risk factors for RLS in MHD patients. Additionally, MHD patients with RLS were more likely to complicate with sleep disorders, anxiety and depression.  Conclusion RLS is a common complication in MHD patients. Longer dialysis, increased PTH and β2-microglobulin, and iron deficiency may relate to the occurrence of RLS in MHD patients. RLS patients are more likely to have sleep disorders, anxiety and depression.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis patients, Restless legs syndrome, Risk factor