[Prevalence of restless legs syndrome at the office in primary health care]. / Prevalencia del síndrome de piernas inquietas en las consultas de atención primaria.

INTRODUCTION: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a usual neurologic disorder, often undiagnosed and treatable, usually associated with sleep disturbance. Our goal was to study prevalence of RLS in our practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, in a Primary care center. 283 patients 50 years old or older, which come to the office for any reason, were evaluated with a questionnaire about the four essential criteria stated by the international RLS study group in 1995. RESULTS: Prevalence of RLS was 11.6% (95% CI: 7.9-15.3%). 73.5% were women and 26.5% men (ratio 3:1). Only 15% reported major repercussion in their quality of life, them we estimated that RLS clinically significant is present in 1.9% of our patients. By means of logistic regression only high number of consults at the office, daily sleepiness and use of hypnotics were associated to RLS. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of RLS in more than 50 years old patients is high: 11.6% but 1.9% of medically significant RLS. Must be suspected specially in women, frequent consultants or with sleep disorders in treatment with hypnotics.

Prevalencia del síndrome de piernas inquietas en las consultas de atención primaria / Prevalence of restless legs syndrome at the office in primary health care

Introducción. El síndrome de piernas inquietas (SPI) es un trastorno neurológico común, infradiagnosticado y tratable, que se asocia casi siempre con problemas de sueño. Nos planteamos estudiar su prevalencia en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal desarrollado en un centro de atención primaria. 283 pacientes mayores de 50 años que consultaron por cualquier motivo fueron encuestados sobre cumplimiento de los criterios diagnósticos establecidos internacionalmente en 1995 por el Grupo Internacional para el Estudio del SPI. Resultados. La prevalencia hallada fue del 11,6% (IC 95%: 7,9-15,3%). Un 73,5% fueron mujeres y un 26,5%, hombres (razón casi de 3 a 1). Sólo un 15% refieren repercusión importante en su calidad de vida, por lo que estimamos el SPI clínicamente relevante en un 1,9%. Por regresión logística sólo la frecuentación elevada, la somnolencia diurna y precisar hipnóticos para dormir, se asoció al SPI. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de SPI hallada en pacientes mayores de 50 años en nuestro medio es elevada, un 11,6%; un 1,9% si nos ceñimos al clínicamente relevante. Debe descartarse especialmente en mujeres, pacientes frecuentadores o con trastornos del sueño en tratamiento con hipnóticos

Introduction. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a usual neurologic disorder, often undiagnosed and treatable, usually associated with sleep disturbance. Our goal was to study prevalence of RLS in our practice. Patients and methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study, in a Primary care center. 283 patients 50 years old or older, which come to the office for any reason, were evaluated with a questionnaire about the four essential criteria stated by the international RLS study group in 1995. Results. Prevalence of RLS was 11,6% (95% CI: 7,9-15,3%). 73.5% were women and 26,5% men (ratio 3:1). Only 15% reported major repercussion in their quality of life, them we estimated that RLS clinically significant is present in 1,9% of our patients. By means of logistic regression only high number of consults at the office, daily sleepiness and use of hypnotics were associated to RLS. Conclusions. Prevalence of RLS in more than 50 years old patients is high: 11,6% but 1,9% of medically significant RLS. Must be suspected specially in women, frequent consultants or with sleep disorders in treatment with hypnotics