Correlation of Restless Leg Syndrome and Sarcopenia with Function and Sleep Quality in Older Adults

Background: Restless legs syndrome and sarcopenia-related functional limitation are common geriatric concerns that may adversely affect sleep quality, physical activity, mobility, and independence among older adults. Sleep disturbance in this population may coexist with reduced lower-extremity performance, but evidence from South Asian older adults remains limited. Objective: To determine the correlation of restless legs syndrome and suspected sarcopenia-related functional limitation with lower-extremity function and sleep quality among older adults. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 175 older adults recruited from tertiary care hospitals, geriatric outpatient departments, and community elderly centers in Lahore, Pakistan. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and lower-extremity function was measured using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Demographic and clinical variables were summarized using descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlation analysis was applied to assess associations between sleep-quality index and selected variables. Results: The mean age of participants was 67.54 ± 7.50 years, and females comprised 59.4% of the sample. Poor sleep quality was observed in 149 participants (85.1%), while 148 participants (84.6%) had moderate lower-extremity functional limitation. Mean PSQI score was 8.18 ± 2.79, mean LEFS score was 53.97 ± 5.69, and mean sleep duration was 6.55 ± 1.19 hours. Sleep-quality index showed strong positive correlations with sleep duration (r = 0.715, p < 0.001) and physical activity level (r = 0.709, p < 0.001), and a moderate inverse correlation with lower-extremity functional performance (r = −0.540, p < 0.001).  Conclusion: Poor sleep quality and moderate lower-extremity functional limitation were highly prevalent among older adults with restless legs syndrome and suspected sarcopenia-related impairment. Sleep quality, sleep duration, physical activity, and lower-extremity function were closely interrelated, supporting the need for integrated geriatric assessment of sleep and mobility