Women with severe restless legs syndrome may face higher stroke risk

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An analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study II found that female patients with severe restless legs syndrome may be more likely to experience stroke, especially ischemic stroke. Researchers, who examined data from 72,916 women ages 41 to 58, report an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.07 for stroke and 3.52 for ischemic stroke among women who experience RLS at least 15 times a month. The study did not establish a causal link, but RLS patients may warrant particular attention to the risk of cardiovascular disease, said researcher Dr. Xiang Gao. Medscape (free registration)