title: Restless Legs Syndrome in a Nigerian Elderly Population.
abstract: The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is highest in the elderly in Caucasian populations; the prevalence of RLS in elderly Africans is not known. This study aimed at determining the frequency and associations of RLS in a Nigerian elderly population.
  
  
  
  The study population comprised of 633 consecutive elderly individuals aged 65-105 years attending the general outpatient clinic of the State Hospital, Ilesa, for minor complaints and routine check-up. The diagnosis of RLS was made using the 2003 minimal criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Relevant sociodemographic and clinical data, including sleep duration, were also obtained.
  
  
  
  Restless legs syndrome was found in 3.5% of the study population with a male-female ratio of 2:1. There was no significant age (p = 0.427) or gender (p = 0.178) influence on the prevalence of RLS except in the 75- to 84-year age group where there was significant male preponderance (p = 0.044). A strong independent association between RLS and sleep duration (OR, 3.229; 95% CI, 1.283-8.486; p = 0.013) and past history of head injury (OR, 4.691; 95% CI, 1.750-12.577; p = 0.002) was found.
  
  
  
  Our finding support previous reports of a possible lower prevalence of RLS in Africans. Restless legs syndrome independently increases the odds of habitual sleep curtailment in elderly individuals. Head injury may be a risk factor for future RLS; this requires further investigation as indirect evidence for a possible link between RLS and traumatic brain injury exists.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fawale
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, State Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ishaq Alani
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adekunle F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Morenikeji A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Komolafe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tewogbade A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Adedeji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Nigeria; elderly; prevalence; restless legs syndrome