Determination of restless legs syndrome prevalence in children aged 13-16years in the provincial center of Kayseri.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and associated factors in adolescents aged 13-16years in the provincial center of Kayseri.


METHODS
The study sample included 5720 adolescents who were selected from among 74,421 grade 7-10 students aged 13-16years in the provincial center of Kayseri. Overall, datas from 4792 subjects were included into analysis. Data were collected by using a self reported questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The prevalence rate of RLS was determined by questionnaire datas and phone interviews. The effects of age, gender, economical status and body weight on RLS prevalence rate were analyzed. Mean ESS score was calculated. The effect of RLS on academic success, as measured by grade point average, was also assessed. The subjects were stratified as underweight, normal, overweight and obese according to the body mass index and the RLS prevalence rate was compared among groups.


RESULTS
The RLS prevalence rate was determined to be 2.9% among adolescents aged 13-16years in the study group. It was found that gender and economical status had no significant effect on RLS prevalence. Mean age at symptom onset was 11.4years of age. There was a positive family history in 11.3% of subjects. Mean body mass index (BMI) was found to be significantly higher in subjects with RLS (21.5±3.8 vs. 20.5±3.2). Academic success (72.0±11.2 vs. 77.0±12.0) was found to be poorer and daytime sleepiness level, as measured by ESS (11.4±3.9 vs. 6.3±4.0), was found to be higher in subjects with RLS.


CONCLUSIONS
The RLS prevalence rate was 2.9% in the study sample while gender and economical status had no significant effect on prevalence rate. The RLS, which results in decreased sleep quality and academic success, is an important disorder with a considerable prevalence in the population.
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: huseyinper@yahoo.com.
Huseyin
H
Per
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: neslihankosr@hotmail.com.
Neslihan
N
Gunay
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: demircis@erciyes.edu.tr.
Sevda
S
Ismailogullari
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Child Psychiatry, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: dboztop@hotmail.com.
Didem Behice
DB
Oztop
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: gunayos@erciyes.edu.tr.
Osman
O
Gunay
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
Adolescent; Restless legs syndrome; Sleep movement disorders