The Clinical Impact of Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep (PLMS): Under-Recognition in Sleep Disordered Breathing and Associations with Key Clinical Outcomes in 481,857 Patients.

Sleep·October 15, 2026·PMID 42878538

Why it matters

PLMS are common but often under-recognized, especially in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. This large-scale analysis suggests that PLMS may be undercounted when SDB is severe, potentially affecting diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions. The associations with neuropsychiatric and cardiometabolic comorbidities highlight the need for clinicians to consider PLMS beyond isolated leg movements.