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Objective: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between impaired peripheral arterial circulation as measured by ankle-brachial index (ABI) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the general population.Methods: Data are derived from three independent, German population-based, prospective studies: the control sample of BiDirect (N = 966), the second follow-up of SHIP (N = 2333), and a subsample of SHIP-Trend (N = 1269). RLS was assessed with questions based on the RLS minimal criteria. ABI was measured with an automated method in BiDirect and with Doppler ultrasound in both SHIP studies. An ABI score below 0.9 was indicative of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Co-morbidities, medications and behavioural factors were self-reported. Additional measurements included body mass index and haemoglobin from blood serum. For BiDirect, a follow-up with identical methodology was performed after a median of 2.5 years.Results: In cross-sectional analyses, decreased ABI was not significantly associated with RLS as outcome in multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for several potential confounders (BiDirect: odds ratio (OR) = 1.07 for a -0.1 change in ABI, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-1.42, p = 0.62; SHIP-2: OR = 0.99, CI: 0.85-1.16, p = 0.94; SHIP-Trend: OR = 0.99, CI: 0.87-1.13, p = 0.88). Similar non-significant results were achieved using PAD (instead of ABI) as an independent variable. In BiDirect, baseline ABI was not a significant predictor of incident RLS in longitudinal analysis (OR = 0.77, CI: 0.53-1.12, p = 0.17).Conclusion: Results from three independent studies suggest that reduced ABI is not a risk factor for RLS in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has interdependently been related to the onset and progression of a large portion of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorders. In due consideration of OSA-mediated endothelial dysfunction, its impact on peripheral artery disease is conceivable, but undefined. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of OSA in a lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) study population. Methods: A total of 91 patients receiving in- and outpatient treatment for LEAD were included in this prospectively conducted trial. In addition to an angiological examination, all patients underwent nocturnal screening for sleep-disordered breathing by use of SOMNOcheck micro® (SC micro) and - depending on the results obtained - polysomnography. Results: Patients were principally late middle-aged (69.3 ± 10.8 years), male (71.4%) and slightly overweight (BMI 26.8 ± 3.9). Overnight screening determined a sleep apnoea prevalence of 78.0%, of which 90.1% exhibited a predominantly obstructive genesis. The mean apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI; events/h) and oxygen desaturation index (events/h) averaged 11.8 ± 13.4 and 8.9 ± 14.2, respectively. The individual AHI categories of non-pathological (<5), mild (5 to <15), moderate (15 to <30) and severe sleep apnoea (≥30) accounted for 22.0, 59.3, 13.2 and 5.5%, respectively. A distributive examination of AHI within LEAD severity groups evinced a significant association (p = 0.047). In cases of at least moderate sleep apnoea (AHI ≥15) polysomnography was performed (n = 17, 18.7% of the whole collective). Correlative analysis revealed a significant correlation between values obtained by SC micro recording and polysomnography, establishing the diagnostic accuracy of the screening results. Conclusions: OSA exhibits an important prevalence of 70.3% in LEAD patients with prior undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing, indicating major OSA unawareness in this cardiovascular cohort. However, the impact of OSA treatment on LEAD propagation remains to be determined. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]