Objective: Identify patients with RLS using social media, describe time of evolution, previous diagnosis, treatment, symptoms severity and quality of life perception.

Background: RLS is a rest-induced, movement-responsive, mostly nocturnal, urge to move the legs, with a prevalence of 4 to 29%. According to the REST study, 5% of adults have RLS symptoms at least once a week. Altough several epidemiologic studies report RLS as one of the most common movement disorders in clinical practice, it is commonly under-diagnosed by general practicioners and specialists. It can be misdiagnosed as arthritis, depression, anxiety, parasites, stress, psychogenic, etc. It has a significant socio-economic impact and low quality of life.

Method: We published the Single Question for RLS (Ferri et al, 2007) on Facebook for 24 hours. Patients with affirmative responses were  evaluated by a movement disorders specialists, to confirm diagnosis, define the severity of symptoms and assess quality of life. Demographic data, time of symptoms evolution, previous diagnosis and treatment data were collected.

Results: 37% subjects responded affirmatively the Single Question in 24 hours (19 out of 51). 73.6% were female, mean age 31.7 years old (33.7 years old for men). All subjects were economically active, with at least one college degree and with negative past medical history. 18 patients were confirmed to have RLS after MD-specialists consult. All of the RLS confirmed subjects had previously reported leg symptoms to their physician at least 4 times, mean time of evolution of 4.7 years prior to our study. 63% of them were treated by a family physician, 15.7% by a psychiatrist, and 26% by other physician (neurologists, gynecologist and internal medicine specialists). None of them were diagnosed with RLS. 88% of them had moderate to severe symptoms, and 75% considered to have a negative impact in their QoL. Common diagnosis were anxiety (46%), arthritis (30%), polyneuropathy (16%) and muscle cramps (8%). Benzodiazepines were the most frequently single prescribed drug (73%) followed by pregabalin (20%) and vitamins (7%). 45% of the subjects were under two drugs, ISRS/TCA with benzodiazepines. Only 16% of the subjects considered to have a good control of their symptoms.

Conclusion: Social networks can be an easy way to detect RLS patients, it can alse be used to screen under-diagnosed diseases, helping patients to reach an appropiate diagnosis and treatment, and, hopefully, improve their QoL perception.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/social-network-for-the-diagnosis-of-rls/