Objective: A transverse study was projected in order to determine the prevalence of Restless Leg Syndrome in the general population of Montevideo, estimate the severity of the disease through the frequency of the symptoms presentation, compare prevalence between genders and among other reports in the literature.

Background: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a sensitive – motor syndrome characterized by an imperious need to move the legs. It is associated with an annoying or unpleasant feeling, usually difficult to precise, that occurs more frequently during night rest with a characteristic circadian rhythm getting worse in the last hours of the day and improving with movement. It causes a great impact on the quality of life. There are few reports of the prevalence of RLS in Latinamerica in the general population.

Method: A total of 199 telephonic surveys were performed on individuals older than 18 years residing in five neighborhoods of Montevideo selected randomly, during the period between April and November 2018. The validated survey includes questions that comprehend the four criteria for RLS established by the International Restless Leg Study Group (IRLSG). Cases with positive answers in all ítems were cataloged as a positive diagnosis.

Results: The sample was composed of 199 individuals including 136 women and 63 men. 17 individuals filled the criteria for RLS diagnosis (8.5%). 76.5% were women and 23.5% men. In relation of the severity of the symptoms, 17.6% were cataloged as mild, 35.3% as moderate and 47.1% as severe.

Conclusion: Prevalence of RLS in the population studied is similar to the reported in the international literature. It was not possible to compare the prevalence among genders because the distribution of the sample was not homogenous. The proportion of severe forms of RLS represents an important number in the population with RLS diagnosis.

References: Allen RP, Picchietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisi J, et al. Restless legs syndrome: diagnostic criteria, special considerations, and epidemiology. A report from the restless legs syndrome diagnosis and epidemiology workshop at the National Institutes of Health. Sleep Med 2003;4:101-119. Hening WA, Allen RP, Washburn M, Lesage SR, Earley CJ. The four diagnostic criteria for Restless Legs Syndrome are unable to exclude confounding conditions (mimics). Sleep Med 2009;10:976-81. Allen RP, Walters AS, Montplaisir J, Hening W, Myers A, Bell TJ, et al. Restless legs syndrome prevalence and impact: REST general population study. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:1286-1292. Gatto M, Parisi VL, Etcheverry JL, Martín MC, Sensibilidad y especificidad de un cuestionario en castellano autoadministrado para la identificación del Síndrome de piernas inquietas en contexto de estudios poblacionales. Neurología Argentina (2013) 5(4), 237 240.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-restless-leg-syndrome-in-the-general-population-of-montevideo-uruguay-in-2018/