title: [An epidemiologic study of restless leg syndrome among retired military elders in Shanxi Province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of restless leg syndrome (RLS) among military elders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among retired military elders in Shanxi Province from 2010 to 2011. According to age, they were divided into 4 groups to compare the prevalence of RLS and evaluate the severity of symptoms as "mild, moderate and severe". And the compositions of symptom severity were compared among different age groups. Also the rate of correct diagnosis of RLS was examined. Univariate analyses were conducted with SPSS 13. 0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 559 RLS patients in 3 472 elder subjects. The prevalence of RLS was 16. 1% and 15. 8% in male elders. The prevalence of RLS in male elders increased significantly with advancing age (P <0. 05). No significant difference existed in the compositions of symptom severity among different age groups of RLS patients (P > 0. 05). Only 3. 22% RLS patients were previously diagnosed and none received a proper therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of RLS among military elders is higher than that of their foreign counterparts. The prevalence of RLS in male elders increases significantly with advancing age. Symptom severity of RLS has no obvious relationship with advancing age. Since the rate of correct diagnosis and therapy is rather low for RLS elders in China, we should pay greater attention to the knowledge of RLS.
authors.forename: Luqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Fengyun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome