Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in a rural community in Japan

Abstract

To assess the prevalence and clinical significance of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a Japanese population, we carried out a community-based survey in a rural area of Japan. We sent questionnaires requesting information on demographics, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, the Short Form-8, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the National Institutes of Health/International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) consensus questionnaire, and the IRLSSG severity scale for RLS (IRLS) to 5,528 eligible adult residents in the town of Daisen in the Tottori prefecture of Japan. Next, we performed telephone interviews to identify subjects with probable RLS. Of the 2,812 subjects (51.1%) who gave complete answers on the IRLSSG questionnaire, 50 (1.8%) were judged as RLS positive. The prevalence of RLS was significantly higher in women than in men, and significantly lower in individuals 60 years of age or older. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the existence of RLS was significantly associated with depression, lowered mental quality of life, and sleep disturbances. The prevalence of RLS in adult Japanese populations may be lower than that reported in Caucasian populations. However, in a group of Japanese subjects, RLS had a significant impact on daytime functioning as well as subjective sleep quality.

Sleep Changes with Aging

“…The development of secondary RLS is associated with renal failure, iron deficiency, frequent blood donation, Parkinson disease, neuropathy, as well as pregnancy. Generally, these medical conditions are more frequently complicated in patient with RLS than in healthy controls 38 .…”

Persistence of Secondary Restless Legs Syndrome in a Phantom Limb Caused by End-stage Renal Disease

“…Results of various studies have revealed the prevalence of RLS in the general population to be 7.2-9.6% in Europe and America (2, 3) and 1.8-4.0% in Japan (4,5). The prevalence of RLS is also known to be higher among women than men in all races (3)(4)(5).…”

“…The prevalence of RLS is also known to be higher among women than men in all races (3)(4)(5). RLS is categorized into idiopathic cases and secondary cases according to the somatic conditions responsible for such conditions as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), pregnancy and iron deficiency.…”

Η Επίδραση Της Άσκησης Στην Ευρωστία Ασθενών Με Χρόνια Νεφρική Ανεπάρκεια Που Πάσχουν Από Το Σύνδρομο Των Ανήσυχων Ποδιών

“…Αν και υπάρχουν σημαντικά στοιχεία σχετικά με την αρνητική επίδραση του συνδρόμου στην ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών, παρόλα αυτά δεν είναι εξακριβωμένο εάν αυτές οι περαιτέρω μειώσεις οφείλονται σε παραμέτρους σχετιζόμενες με ψυχολογικούς-πνευματικούς παράγοντες ή σε σωματικούς παράγοντες. Κάποια στοιχεία σε ασθενείς με πρωτογενές και ουραιμικό ΣΑΠ αναφέρουν ότι τα χαμηλά επίπεδα ποιότητας ζωής τα οποία βιώνουν οι ασθενείς οφείλονται κυρίως σε ψυχολογικούς-πνευματικούς παράγοντες (π.χ κατάθλιψη, στρες) και στον ύπνο παρά σε σωματικούς παράγοντες (7,10).…”

“…Κάποια δεδομένα από ασθενείς με πρωτογενές ΣΑΠ υποστηρίζουν ότι η επίδραση του συνδρόμου στην ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών, επέρχεται μέσω της επιρροής του ΣΑΠ σε ψυχολογικούς παράγοντες αντί σε σωματικούς παράγοντες (10,110).…”