Professor Jo Yong-won of Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital Advises Considering 'Restless Legs Syndrome' in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 27th, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital announced research results jointly conducted by Professor Jo Yong-won of the Sleep Center and Professor Do Young-rok of the Hematology-Oncology Department, revealing that over 40% of patients with iron deficiency anemia suffer from sleep disorders due to restless legs syndrome.

The research team investigated the frequency and clinical characteristics of restless legs syndrome in 124 patients with iron deficiency anemia. They found that 40.3% (50 patients) had restless legs syndrome, and among them, 82% (41 patients) experienced moderate to severe sleep disorders.

Professor Jo Yong-won, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital

In particular, anemic patients with restless legs syndrome were found to have more severe sleep disorders and were more likely to suffer from emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression compared to those without the syndrome.

The study was published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine’ (Volume 17(7), July 2021), issued by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Regarding the paper, Professor Jo stated, “A significant number of patients with iron deficiency anemia have restless legs syndrome, leading to severe insomnia and poor sleep quality. Therefore, it is very important to check for the presence of restless legs syndrome when treating anemia patients to improve sleep and quality of life.”

Meanwhile, Professor Jo Yong-won currently serves as the president of the Korean Sleep Research Society and is actively conducting basic and clinical research on restless legs syndrome centered around the Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital Sleep Center research team, publishing world-class achievements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.