ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MENSTRUATION AND EXCESSIVE DAYTIME SLEEPINESS IN SUBJECTS WITH RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME AMONG INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS IN KARACHI.

Background: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Menstrual-related distress and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) symptoms worsen during menstruation, both affecting sleep and mental health, which can contribute to daytime sleepiness so the object of this study was to determine the association between Menstruation and Excessive daytime sleepiness in subjects with Restless leg syndrome among intermediate students in Karachi. Methods: Crossectional study design was used in this research. The study was conducted among different intermediate colleges of Karachi. The study involves 125 participants aged 16 to 20, diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). The questionnaire incorporates standardized tools to gather data on menstrual symptoms, Excessive daytime sleepiness, and the diagnosis of Restless leg syndrome (RLS) among intermediate-level students. Data were stored and analyzed using IBM- SPSS version 23.0 Results:The mean age of the 125 participants was 17 years. The mean age of menarche was 13 years, with a mean menstrual cycle length of 26 days and a mean menstrual duration of 5 days. Among them, 29.6% reported excessive daytime sleepiness during menstruation. Additionally, 59.2% of females experienced mild changes in menstrual distress four days before menstruation, 44.8% experienced moderate changes during menstruation, and 61.6% experienced mild changes during the rest of the cycle. Fisher's exact test revealed a significant association between excessive daytime sleepiness and menstrual distress before menstruation, during menstruation, and during the rest of the cycle. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated a 38.6% positive correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness and menstrual distress scores.Conclusion:The study suggests a noteworthy association between Menstruation and Excessive daytime sleepiness in subjects with Restless leg syndrome among intermediate students in Karachi.