No abstract

Purpose Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a serious burden for patients which can be measured in economic terms by assessing the money spent on therapy and the willingness to pay. The aim of this study was to assess whether or not patients feel satisfied with the therapy relative to the money they spent on the treatment, and to assess patients’ willingness to pay for therapy that fully eliminates all RLS symptoms. Methods Adult subjects with RLS confirmed by actual international consensus criteria, a positive RLS-Diagnostic Index (RLS-DI) score, and clinical examinations and observations were assessed to generate a disease severity index. An original set of questions was used to collect data on patient satisfaction with therapy and their willingness to pay. Results Among 100 subjects, 27% were not satisfied with therapy; this subgroup was characterized by lower indices of severity of the disease. Patients spent approximately 3% of their income in treating RLS. They are willing to pay up to 8.3% of their income to eliminate symptoms. Conclusions The cost of RLS therapy is a significant part of patient expenditure. Nevertheless, RLS may at times remain so troublesome for patients that they are willing to spend more on therapy to eliminate symptoms.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS/WED) is one of the most important causes of sleep disorders. It is a sensorimotor neurological dysfunction, very common, and at the same time too rarely diagnosed. It is characterized by the compulsion to move the limbs, combined with unpleasant sensations located “deep inside the lower limbs” that subside after taking physical activity and stopping rest. Not all patients require pharmacological treatment. In a situation where the symptoms are not very severe, observation and non-pharmacological activities are sufficient. Other patients with symptoms that hinder everyday life require pharmacological treatment. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the treatment may be temporary and or continuous. Due to the fact that the restless legs syndrome may occur in various diseases (Parkinson’s disease, in dialysis patients, patients with mental and cardiological diseases, pregnant women), it is important for nurses of different specializations to know the issues of symptoms, coping with them, rules for the use of the recommended treatment, which in the case of RLS may be associated with many adverse reactions. Nursing care is extremely important in the diagnostic and therapeutic process of restless legs syndrome. (JNNN 2018;7(4):166–172)