Background: Sleep disorders, especially restless legs syndrome (RLS), are one of the most common complications of hemodialysis. The present study was carried out to investigate the relationship between RLS and the quality of sleep among the hemodialysis patients.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 171 hemodialysis patients admitted to dialysis centers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province were selected by census sampling. The subjects were divided into the two groups, with and without RLS. Data were collected using the sleep quality and RLS questionnaires.

Results: Among 171 hemodialysis patients, 95 (55.6%) cases were men and 76 (44.4%) women 98 (57.3%) patients with RLS and 73 (42.7%) without RLS. The mean scores of the sleep quality in the severe syndrome, mild syndrome and no syndrome groups were 53.64±15.10, 46.05±9.79 and 31.50±12.82, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the sleep quality scores between the three groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of RLS in the hemodialysis patients, the preventive measures should be considered to avoid the syndrome.