title: An epidemiologic study of restless legs syndrome among Chinese children and adolescents.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in Chinese children and adolescents as well as the impact of the disorder on 8-11 and 12-17 years old. This population-based study was conducted in five primary schools and seven high schools, which were randomly selected in Henan province, China. A total of 6792 students aged 8-17 years old were given a questionnaire that included the adult diagnostic criteria of RLS proposed by the International Restless Legs Study Group. Subjects who answered "yes" to all four questions were selected for a face-to-face interview to confirm RLS diagnosis. Individuals with definite RLS were then administered another questionnaire to survey RLS symptoms and perceived consequences. The prevalence of definite RLS in Chinese children and adolescents was 2.2 % (141/6437), with a prevalence of 1.8 % in the 8-11 years old age group and 2.4 % in the 12-17 years old age group. RLS was found to be more prevalent in females (2.7 %) than in males (1.7 %) (P = 0.008), and the prevalence of RLS was determined to increase with age. Sleep disturbance was the most common symptom of RLS in children and adolescents. Various consequences were attributed to RLS, with participants reporting that they dreaded the arrival of evening/night most frequently, followed by the description that RLS had a negative impact on mood. These data suggest that RLS is prevalent in Chinese children and adolescents, and that those affected by this disorder suffer from disruptions to sleep and daytime function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China, xuerui04301617@126.com.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Gangqiong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references.citation: J Psychosom Res. 2002 Jul;53(1):561-9
references.pmid: 12127172
references.citation: Sleep Med. 2011 Apr;12(4):315-21
references.pmid: 21339085
references.citation: Sleep. 2002 Mar 15;25(2):213-8
references.pmid: 11902431
references.citation: Sleep Med. 2008 Oct;9(7):770-81
references.pmid: 18024165
references.citation: Sleep. 1998 Dec 15;21(8):861-8
references.pmid: 9871948
references.citation: Paediatr Respir Rev. 2006;7 Suppl 1:S55-7
references.pmid: 16798596
references.citation: J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Sep;66(9):1139-45
references.pmid: 16187772
references.citation: Pediatr Nephrol. 2012 Mar;27(3):451-9
references.pmid: 21964556
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2007 Aug;120(2):253-66
references.pmid: 17671050
references.citation: Mov Disord. 2008 Dec 15;23(16):2363-9
references.pmid: 18973260
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2005 Jun 13;165(11):1286-92
references.pmid: 15956009
references.citation: J Psychosom Res. 2002 Jul;53(1):547-54
references.pmid: 12127170
references.citation: Sleep. 2005 Dec;28(12):1498-9
references.pmid: 16408405
references.citation: Sleep. 2004 Jun 15;27(4):767-73
references.pmid: 15283013
references.citation: Sleep. 2005 Dec;28(12):1561-7
references.pmid: 16408416
references.citation: Mov Disord. 2001 May;16(3):577-9
references.pmid: 11391765
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jan 26;164(2):196-202
references.pmid: 14744844
references.citation: Sleep Med. 2003 Mar;4(2):101-19
references.pmid: 14592341
references.citation: Sleep. 2006 Sep;29(9):1115-34
references.pmid: 17040000
references.citation: Dev Med Child Neurol. 2011 Jan;53(1):40-7
references.pmid: 20875044
references.citation: Sleep. 2007 Jul;30(7):861-5
references.pmid: 17682656
references.citation: Sleep Med. 2004 May;5(3):237-46
references.pmid: 15165529
references.citation: Cephalalgia. 2012 Jul;32(9):693-9
references.pmid: 22659118
references.citation: Clin Ther. 2004 Jun;26(6):925-35
references.pmid: 15262463
references.citation: Semin Pediatr Neurol. 1996 Mar;3(1):44-50
references.pmid: 8795841
references.citation: Semin Neurol. 2005 Mar;25(1):117-29
references.pmid: 15798944