Prevalence of restless legs syndrome at the office in primary health care

Introduction. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a usual neurologic disorder often undiagnosed and treatable, usually associated with sleep disturbance. Our goal was to study prevalence of RLS in our practice. Patients and methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study, in a Primary care center 283 patients 50 years old or older which come to the office for any reason, were evaluated with a questionnaire about the four essential criteria stated by the international RLS study group in 1995. Results. Prevalence of RLS was 11,6% (95% CP 7,9-15,3%). 73.5% were women and 26,5% men (ratio 3:1). Only 15% reported major repercussion in their quality of life, thein we estimated that RLS clinically significant is present in 1,9% of our patients. By means of logistic regression only high number of consults at the office, daily sleepiness and use of hypnotics were associated to RLS. Conclusions. Prevalence of RLS in more than 50 years old patients is high: 11,6% but 1,9% of medically significant RLS. Must be suspected specially in women, frequent consultants or with sleep disorders in treatment with hypnotics.