Severity of restless leg syndrome in patients undergoing hemodialysis: assessing its burden on quality of life and knowledge

Objectives This study aimed to assess the severity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) among patients undergoing hemodialysis and to evaluate its burden on quality of life (QoL), as well as its relationship with knowledge regarding end-stage renal disease (ESRD), RLS, and hemodialysis (HD). Methods In 2025, a descriptive correlation study was used. A purposive sample of (75) patients was recruited from the hemodialysis unit of Banha University Hospital in Qalyubia, Egypt. Self-administered questionnaires included: 1) socio-demographic characteristics; 2) a questionnaire assessing patient’s knowledge regarding ESRD, RLS, and HD; 3) the International Restless Legs Syndrome study group (IRLSSG) rating scale; and 4) A Quality of life (QoL) scale. Statistical analysis was analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results A total of 75 patients were included, with a mean age of 47.6 ± 9.2 years; Of them, 65.3% were males, and 56% had been on dialysis for 5–10 years. Overall, 62.7% of the studied patients had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding ESRD and RLS in the setting of hemodialysis. Regarding RLS severity, 10.7% had mild, 28.0% had moderate, 42.7% had severe, and 18.6% had very severe RLS. Overall, 48.0% of participants had poor total QoL. Overall RLS severity and QoL showed a statistically significant inverse association (p < 0.001). Overall RLS severity and QoL showed an inverse association with high statistical significance (p < 0.001). In addition, overall knowledge was inversely associated with overall RLS severity, though this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.056). However, QoL showed a statistically significant direct association with the overall level of knowledge (p < 0.029). Regarding QoL subdimensions, 52.0%, 54.7%, 49.3%, and 37.3% of patients reported poor QoL across the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains, respectively. Overall, 48.0% of participants had poor total QoL, 37.3% had average QoL, and 14.7% had good QoL. Conclusion Among the investigated patients, QoL showed a negative association with overall RLS severity with high statistical significance. Moreover, overall knowledge was negatively and meaningfully associated with overall RLS severity. However, QoL was meaningfully and positively associated with the overall level of knowledge.