Alcohol consumption is directly linked to leg cramps occurring at night which may affect the quality of sleep among old age patients above 60 years.
A strong relationship has been found between alcohol consumption and active leg cramps occurring at night among patients above 60 years, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.// In a case-control study in France, 140 general practice patients with and without leg cramps were administered a food frequency questionnaire. Researchers found an association between global consumption of alcoholic beverages and nocturnal leg cramps.
‘Alcohol-related leg cramps when occurred at night can affect the quality of sleep and quality of life.’
Patients drinking alcohol at least once a week had an odds ratio of 6.5 of suffering from nocturnal leg cramps. There was no linear relationship between the amount of alcohol consumed and odds of leg cramps. In light of the negative effect that nocturnal leg cramps have on patients' quality of sleep and quality of life, the authors call for additional research to evaluate the existence of a causal link and to determine the pathophysiology of leg cramps and alcohol's impact on them.
Source-Eurekalert