title: Restless legs syndrome, sleep, and quality of life among adolescents and young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical reports in children implicate restless legs syndrome (RLS) with sleep and behavior problems. However, population-based studies on this association in adolescents and young adults are limited. Furthermore, few studies have evaluated the association between symptoms consistent with RLS and quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 214 Caucasian and Hispanic adolescents and young adults aged 12-20 years. Symptoms consistent with RLS were based on four essential criteria and if the symptoms occurred ≥ 5 days/ month. Trouble falling asleep was present if reported "yes, still have the problem." Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the Pediatric QoL Inventory. Three summary QoL scores ranging from 0-100 were evaluated; higher scores indicated better QoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 50% male and 68.1% Caucasian. Prevalence of RLS was 8.4% (n = 18). RLS was associated with trouble falling asleep (OR = 3.1, p = 0.049), and trouble falling asleep was associated with worse Psychosocial Health scores (Coeff. -5.6, p = 0.004) and Total Scale scores for quality of life (Coeff. -4.6, p = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of symptoms consistent with RLS in this community-based sample of adolescents and young adults, aged 12-20, is comparable to rates reported in older cohorts. Symptoms consistent with RLS may be associated with trouble falling asleep and psychosocial distress that may contribute to a lower health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Graciela E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Vana
authors.affiliation: Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.affiliation: Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Stuart F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Quan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescents; and sleep; quality of life; restless legs syndrome; young adults