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Restless Legs Syndrome Remains Under-Diagnosed

Study Results Confirm That Restless Legs Syndrome Impairs Patients' Lives By Disrupting Sleep and Impacting Quality of Life

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC and ROCHESTER, MN -- May 25, 2004 -- Study results from the first large patient and physician study of the epidemiology, prevalence and impact of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), show that this neurological disorder impairs patients' lives, including disrupting sleep. Results of the REST (RLS Epidemiology, Symptoms and Treatment) Study in Primary Care, which are published in the current issue of Sleep Medicine, also show that despite its negative impact on sleep and subsequent daily functioning, RLS is often under-diagnosed in the primary care setting. Of the 551 patients characterized as probable RLS sufferers by the validated study criteria, 64.8% (357/551) reported consulting a physician about their symptoms during the last 12 months. Of these patients, only 12.9% (46/357) reported receiving a diagnosis of RLS by their physician.

Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs and by uncomfortable or sometimes painful sensations in the legs often described as creeping, burning or twitching. These symptoms generally occur at rest, such as when sitting, lying or sleeping, and are temporarily relieved by movement. As a result, people with RLS often avoid activities such as movies, long car rides or airline flights and have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
"The REST data show that RLS can have a profound, negative impact on both everyday activities as well as on the quality of sleep," said lead study investigator, Wayne Hening, M.D. Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "Our study highlights the need to educate patients and healthcare professionals about RLS, so that this common, disruptive condition can be better diagnosed and managed."


RLS is Common

The REST study, funded by GlaxoSmithKline, included all patients (n = 23,052) visiting 182 primary care doctors in the U.S. and Western Europe over a two-week period. Of those patients, 11.1 percent had RLS symptoms and nearly10 percent of patients reported experiencing symptoms of RLS at least once weekly. From these patients, a subset of 551 "RLS sufferers" was selected for further analysis. The "RLS sufferers" were defined as those who reported symptoms at least twice weekly and had either some or a high negative impact of these symptoms on their quality of life.


RLS is Disruptive

"RLS sufferers" in the REST study reported on the frequency and type of sleep disturbances that resulted from RLS symptoms, and the subsequent effect on daily activities. For these 551 RLS individuals:
· 68.6 % reported taking more than 30 minutes to get to sleep
· 60.1 % reported waking three or more times per night
· 60.8 % reported that they lacked energy when experiencing RLS symptoms
· 60.1 % found it difficult to sit or relax
· 57.2 % stated that their daily activities were disturbed
· 53.9 % reported a tendency to become 'depressed/low'; and
· 49.7 % believed the symptoms adversely affected their concentration the next day.

When asked about the overall impact of RLS symptoms on their quality of life, 36.3 % reported high negative impact and 63.7% reported some negative impact.


RLS is Under-Recognized

The REST study results showed that a majority of the "RLS sufferers" (64.8%) consulted a physician about their symptoms during the last 12 months, but only a small percentage (12.9%) were diagnosed with RLS. Other conditions diagnosed in more than 20 percent of these patients included:
· Back pain (34.8%)
· Depressed mood/depression (26.9 %)
· Hypertension (26.1%)
· Insomnia (26.0 %)
· Anxiety (23.2)
. Arthritis (21.8 %)

"What patients talk about the most is their inability to ever get comfortable, to be able to physically relax, and their frustration in getting adequate help," said Georgianna Bell, Executive Director, Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation. "By publicizing these study results we hope that more patients will come forward and discuss their symptoms with their doctor, and conversely, that primary care doctors will gain a better understanding of how RLS impacts patients' lives."


SOURCE: Cohn & Wolfe Healthcare

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