ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN LIMA, PERU

Muchaipiña-Crespo T.A.J. · Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana (2025) · DOI: 10.25176/rfmh.v25i2.7334

Resumen

Introduction: The objective of this study is to determine the association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and anxiety in Human Medicine students at Universidad Científica del Sur (UCSUR) during the 2024 academic year. A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 276 students using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), both validated in university populations. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated through log-binomial regression. RLS prevalence was 84.4 %, with severe (31.9 %) and very severe (35.9 %) levels predominating. Severe anxiety was reported in 86.6 % of participants. A significant association was found between anxiety and RLS (adjusted PR=3.23; 95 % CI: 1.65-6.30; p<0.001), independent of age, sex, and academic year. It is concluded that anxiety is associated with RLS, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies to clarify the causal direction of this relationship and to guide effective preventive interventions.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur