Epidemiology

• in the white Caucasian population, adult prevalence figures for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or periodic limb movements range between 5 and 29 per cent (1)
  • with reference to the MEMO study results, it is likely to be in excess of five million people in the UK who have RLS (1,2)
• in the United States and Northern Europe around 7 to 10% of the general population are diagnosed with RLS (3)
• prevalence and disease severity seems to increase with age (3)
• the incidence is higher in women (3)
• RLS presents mostly in middle age - however onset occurs before the age of 20 in up to 43 per cent of adult cases (1)
• many patients will have a mild form of RLS
  • however in some the symptoms may be very severe - these patients will often request and need treatment

Reference:

• (1) Prescriber (2003), 14 (18).
• (2) Rothdach AJ, Trenkwalder C, Haberstock J, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of RLS in an elderly population: the MEMO study. Neurology 2000;54:1064-8.
• (3) Gamaldo C.E. et al. Rest legs syndrome – A clinical update. Chest 2006;130(5):1596-1604