title: Prevalence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome among Chinese adults in a rural community of Shanghai in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in an adult Chinese population living in a rural community. We also aimed to determine the predictive diagnostic value of the 4-item screening questionnaire for RLS in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed as a 2-phase survey. In phase 1 we performed a face-to-face interview of eligible individuals living in a rural community in Shanghai using a 4-item screening questionnaire. In phase 2, sleep specialists performed a phone interview of the individuals who screened positive to diagnosis RLS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one RLS cases were confirmed among 2941 eligible individuals 18 years of age or older in the study community. The prevalence of RLS was 1.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-1.9%), with a significantly higher rate observed in females (1.9% [95%CI =1.3-2.7%]) than that in males (0.9% [95%CI = 0.5-1.5%], p = 0.019). The prevalence rate increased significantly with age, from 0.2% (95% CI = 0.08-0.6%) in those 18-39 years old to 4.1% (95% CI = 2.1-7.9%) in those ≥ 70 years old (p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gastritis, anemia and hypertension were risk factors for RLS. The sensitivity and specificity of the 4-item screening questionnaire used in this study were 63.4% and 97.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RLS prevalence is relatively low among Chinese adults living in rural Shanghai. Furthermore, population-based studies with a larger sample size and a longitudinal follow-up may help to determine the risk factors of RLS and potential interventions for RLS.
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yunbo
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Huan
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ding
authors: D
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Peimin
authors: P
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Dongyan
authors: D
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires