title: A community-based investigation on restless legs syndrome in a town in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and severity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a town in China and to explore potential factors correlated with the severity of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face home interviews were conducted among a random sample of 2101 residents in one town in China, all aged 16 years and above. An individual questionnaire was administered to all participants to obtain a diagnosis of RLS and other information. An additional questionnaire was then handed out to each patient diagnosed with RLS to collect information on RLS severity and potential factors correlating with RLS severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of RLS in the studied population was 7.2%. The prevalence in women was significantly higher than in men and increased with age. Diabetes mellitus, anemia, arthritis, and varicose veins were also associated with RLS. Among the 152 patients, 21.7% were classified as having severe RLS. Multiple correlation analysis reveals that RLS severity was positively correlated with longer disease duration, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and level of work-related physical activity, but negatively correlated with level of leisure time physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RLS is common in the studied population. Lifestyle factors may be associated with RLS severity.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Weifang Medical College, Weifang 261042, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lan-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zeng-Wu
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult