This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (212)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related article  • Similar articles in this journal

Barbara Phillips, MD, MSPH, FCCP; Terry Young, PhD; Laurel Finn, MS; Karen Asher, BA; Wayne A. Hening, MD, PhD; Cheryl Purvis, PhD

Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:2137-2141.

Background  Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder characterized by sleep-disrupting unpleasant leg sensations, often accompanied by daytime behavioral problems. Treatment for this condition is available, but it is suspected that most instances of RLS remain undiagnosed. The goal of this investigation was to assess the prevalence and health status correlates of restless legs symptoms (hereinafter referred to as restless legs) in the general population.

Methods  A question reflecting the clinical features of RLS was added to the 1996 Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Data on the frequency of experiencing restless legs, self-rated general and mental health status, demographics, and behavioral risk factors were collected by telephone interview from 1803 men and women, 18 years and older.

Results  Experiencing restless legs 5 or more nights per month was reported by 3% of participants aged 18 to 29 years, 10% of those aged 30 to 79 years, and 19% of those 80 years and older. The age-adjusted prevalence for Kentucky adults is 10.0%; prevalence did not vary significantly by sex. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for restless legs and diminished general health and poor mental health status were 2.4 (1.4-4.0) and 3.1 (2.0-4.6), respectively. Restless legs were significantly associated with increased age and body mass index, lower income, smoking, lack of exercise, low alcohol consumption, and diabetes.

Conclusions  The prevalence of restless legs in the general adult population is high. Restless legs may be associated with decreased well-being, emphasizing the need for further research and greater medical recognition of this condition.

From the Departments of Medicine (Dr Phillips) and Anatomy (Dr Purvis), University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington; the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services, Frankfort (Ms Asher); the Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison (Dr Young and Ms Finn); and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lyons, NJ (Dr Hening).

RELATED ARTICLE

Archives of Internal Medicine Reader's Choice: Continuing Medical Education
Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(14):2228.
FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Appropriate Use of Dopamine Agonists and Levodopa in Restless Legs Syndrome in an Ambulatory Care Setting
Molokwu
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2008;42:627-632.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Where dopamine meets opioids: a meta-analysis of the placebo effect in restless legs syndrome treatment studies
Fulda and Wetter
Brain 2008;131:902-917.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetes: Implications to Diabetes Educators
Cuellar and Ratcliffe
The Diabetes Educator 2008;34:218-234.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Genetic Risk Factor for Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep
Vilarino-Guell et al.
NEJM 2008;358:425-428.
FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs Syndrome
Ryan and Slevin
Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2007;20:430-448.
ABSTRACT  

A Genetic Risk Factor for Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep
Stefansson et al.
NEJM 2007;357:639-647.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome: a clinical update.
Gamaldo and Earley
Chest 2006;130:1596-1604.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome.
Medcalf and Bhatia
BMJ 2006;333:457-458.
FULL TEXT  

Exercise and Restless Legs Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Aukerman et al.
J Am Board Fam Med 2006;19:487-493.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome.
Ryan and Slevin
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2006;63:1599-1612.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome: Revisiting the dopamine hypothesis from the spinal cord perspective.
Clemens et al.
Neurology 2006;67:125-130.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome: Manifestations, treatment and dental implications.
Friedlander et al.
Journal of the American Dental Association 2006;137:755-761.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Older Adults
Ancoli-Israel and Ayalon
AJGP 2006;14:95-103.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence and Correlates of Restless Legs Syndrome: Results From the 2005 National Sleep Foundation Poll
Phillips et al.
Chest 2006;129:76-80.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Epidemiology of restless legs syndrome in French adults: A nationwide survey: The INSTANT Study
Tison et al.
Neurology 2005;65:239-246.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome: A community-based study of prevalence, severity, and risk factors
Hogl et al.
Neurology 2005;64:1920-1924.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Altered central excitability and analgesic treatment in patients with restless legs syndrome
Leutgeb et al.
Brain 2005;128:E34-E34.
FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs Syndrome: Confirmation of Linkage to Chromosome 12q, Genetic Heterogeneity, and Evidence of Complexity
Desautels et al.
Arch Neurol 2005;62:591-596.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and quality of life in patients on maintenance dialysis
Mucsi et al.
Nephrol Dial Transplant 2005;20:571-577.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Akathisia, restless legs and periodic limb movements in sleep in Parkinson's disease
Poewe and Hogl
Neurology 2004;63:S12-S16.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Long-term Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome With Dopamine Agonists
Ondo et al.
Arch Neurol 2004;61:1393-1397.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Efficacy of pergolide in treatment of restless legs syndrome: The PEARLS Study
Trenkwalder et al.
Neurology 2004;62:1391-1397.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Movement disorders: A sleep specialist's perspective
Phillips
Neurology 2004;62:S9-16.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Correlation of anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with restless legs syndrome: a population based survey
Sevim et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2004;75:226-230.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sex and the Risk of Restless Legs Syndrome in the General Population
Berger et al.
Arch Intern Med 2004;164:196-202.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Ropinirole in the treatment of restless legs syndrome: results from the TREAT RLS 1 study, a 12 week, randomised, placebo controlled study in 10 European countries
Trenkwalder et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2004;75:92-97.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Unexpectedly low prevalence and unusual characteristics of RLS in Mersin, Turkey
Sevim et al.
Neurology 2003;61:1562-1569.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms in Primary Care: A Prevalence Study
Nichols et al.
Arch Intern Med 2003;163:2323-2329.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Autosomal dominant restless legs syndrome maps on chromosome 14q
Bonati et al.
Brain 2003;126:1485-1492.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Transient restless legs syndrome after spinal anesthesia: A prospective study
Hogl et al.
Neurology 2002;59:1705-1707.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Treatment of restless legs syndrome with gabapentin: A double-blind, cross-over study
Garcia-Borreguero et al.
Neurology 2002;59:1573-1579.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Exploring the Relationship Between Parkinson Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome
Ondo et al.
Arch Neurol 2002;59:421-424.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Restless legs syndrome
CHAUDHURI et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2001;71:143-146.
FULL TEXT  

Epidemiology of Restless Legs Syndrome
Machtey and Phillips
Arch Intern Med 2001;161:483-484.
FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs as a Marker for General Health
JWatch Psychiatry 2000;2000:14-14.
FULL TEXT  

Restless Legs as a Marker for General Health
JWatch General 2000;2000:3-3.
FULL TEXT