title: Diseases in patients coming to a sleep center with symptoms related to restless legs syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the profile of patients who visit a sleep center with symptoms that fulfill the four essential criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients from one sleep disorders clinic in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,200 consecutive patients visit sleep disorders clinic with any sleep complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  After completing a history and physical examination, all participants answered the RLS questionnaire. Subjects who fulfilled the four essential criteria for RLS were referred to a special clinic. A work-up including blood tests, polysomnography, and specialized neurological tests etc. was performed to make the final diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,185 participants were enrolled, and, of these, 131(11.1%) fulfilled the four essential criteria for RLS, and 121 completed the supplemental work-up. Their mean age was 47.6±13.3 and 52.9% were male. Insomnia and snoring were the most common chief complaints. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and other diseases were found in 103 patients. Only 18 (14.9%) patients had no comorbid condition and were diagnosed with primary RLS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of RLS are common in patients with sleep complaints. Even in a sleep clinic, using a questionnaire approach for identification of RLS has a low positive predictive value. Clinicians should pay attention to the limitations of the 4-item questionnaire in diagnosis of RLS and also the importance of a careful differential diagnosis to identify possible secondary causes of RLS.
authors: Sleep Center, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tayuan, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Lin
authors: Yen-Lung
authors: YL
authors: Chen
authors: Kuo-Chin
authors: KC
authors: Kao
authors: Cheng-Ta
authors: CT
authors: Yang
authors: Li-Pang
authors: LP
authors: Chuang
authors: Yu-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Chou
authors: Szu-Chia
authors: SC
authors: Lai
authors: Rou-Shayn
authors: RS
authors: Chen
authors: Ning-Hung
authors: NH
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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