Clinical correlates of the restless legs syndrome

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 70; no. 7; pp. 529 - 531
• Main Authors: Marin, Luis Fabiano, Felicio, Andre Carvalho, Santos, William Adolfo, Prado, Lucila Bizari, Prado, Gilmar Fernandes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01-07-2012; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia; Brasil; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Drugs; Educational Status; End-stage renal disease; epidemiologia; Female; Humans; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuropathy; NEUROSCIENCES; Nutrient deficiency; Parkinson's disease; PSYCHIATRY; Races; restless legs syndrome; Restless Legs Syndrome - drug therapy; Restless Legs Syndrome - epidemiology; Restless Legs Syndrome - etiology; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Sex ratio; Sleep disorders; Standard deviation; síndrome das pernas inquietas; Young Adult; Brazil; Brazil; epidemiology; síndrome das pernas inquietas; Brasil; epidemiologia; restless legs syndrome
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2012000700011

To determine the clinical correlates of the restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a Brazilian sleep disorders center.
We retrospectively studied 118 patients with RLS from January, 2004, to December, 2010. The analyzed variables were: age at disease onset, gender, race, years of school instruction, primary and secondary RLS, and treatment options.
Among the studied patients, 83.9% were women with a female/male sex ratio of 5:1. Mean age of the patients at symptom onset ± standard deviation was 41.7±17.9 years-old. The primary RLS was found in 85% of patients. The other 15% remainders consisted of secondary forms, and they were associated with neuropathy, iron deficiency anemia, end-stage renal disease, or Parkinson's disease. Drug therapy for RLS was introduced in 67% of patients.
Most patients presented primary RLS with an early disease onset. Further epidemiological studies are welcomed to provide better information on secondary RLS in Brazil.