Prevalence and predictors of restless legs syndrome in non-pregnant Saudi women of childbearing age

Purpose This study assessed the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and its correlates and severity among non-pregnant Saudi women of childbearing age. Methods Consecutive non-pregnant female visitors (age 15-44 years) of the primary care centers of the female University campus at King Saud University (n = 1,136) were interviewed face-to-face to determine the presence and severity of RLS using the International Restless Legs Syndrome (IRLS) Study Group criteria and IRLS severity scale. Results A total of 271 participants (24%) were diagnosed with RLS. Of these cases, severe/very severe RLS was diagnosed in 13% and mild/moderate in 87%. None of these participants had been diagnosed or treated for RLS before. Subjects with RLS were older, had a higher body mass index, and a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and diabetes mellitus than those without RLS. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified the following independent predictors of RLS: age (OR 1.03 [1.009-1.051],p = 0.004), vitamin D deficiency (OR 2.147 [1.612-2.86],p < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (OR 4.408 [1.946-9.982],p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results indicate that RLS is very common and underdiagnosed among non-pregnant Saudi women of a childbearing age-attending primary care cents. RLS was linked to age, vitamin D deficiency, and diabetes mellitus.