Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An epidemiologic study of restless legs syndrome among Chinese children and adolescents

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen RP, Picchietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisir J (2003) Restless legs syndrome: diagnostic criteria, special considerations, and epidemiology. A report from the restless legs syndrome diagnosis and epidemiology workshop at the National Institutes of Health. Sleep Med 4:101–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hornyak M, Feige B, Voderholzer U et al (2007) Polysomnography findings in patients with restless legs syndrome and in healthy controls: a comparative observational study. Sleep 30:861–865

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hornyak M, Kopasz M, Berger M et al (2005) Impact of sleep-related complaints on depressive symptoms in patients with restless legs syndrome. J Clin Psychiatry 66:1139–1145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Abetz L, Allen R, Washburn T et al (2004) The impact of restless legs syndrome (RLS) on sleep and cognitive function. Eur J Neurol 9(suppl 2):50

    Google Scholar 

  5. Allen RP, Walters AS, Montplaisir J et al (2005) Restless legs syndrome prevalence and impact: REST general population study. Arch Intern Med 165:1286–1292

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Abetz L, Allen R, Follet A et al (2004) Evaluating the quality of life of patients with restless legs syndrome. Clin Ther 26:925–935

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chervin RD, Archbold KH, Dillon JE et al (2002) Associations between symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, restless legs, and periodic leg movements. Sleep 25:213–218

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Picchietti D, Steven HE (2008) Early manifestations of restless legs syndrome in childhood and adolescence. Sleep Med 9:770–781

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Simakajornboon N (2006) Periodic limb movement disorder in children. Paediatr Respir Rev 7:S55–S57

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Seidel S, Böck A, Schlegel W et al (2012) Increased RLS prevalence in children and adolescents with migraine: a case-control study. Cephalalgia 32:693–699

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Davis ID, Greenbaum LA, Gipson D et al (2012) Prevalence of sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease. Pediatr Nephrol 27:451–459

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Rajaram SS, Walters AS, England SJ, Mehta D, Nizami F (2004) Some children with growing pains may actually have restless legs syndrome. Sleep 27:767–773

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ohayon MM, Roth T (2002) Prevalence of restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in the general population. J Psychosom Res 53:547–554

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hening W, Walters AS, Allen RP, Montplaisir J, Myers A, Ferrini-Strambi L (2004) Impact, diagnosis and treatment of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in a primary care population: the REST (RLS epidemiology, symptoms, and treatment) primary care study. Sleep Med 5:237–246

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Allen RP, Walters AS, Montplaisir J et al (2005) Restless leg syndrome prevalence and impact: REST general population study. Arch Intern Med 165:1286–1292

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Berger K, Luedemann J, Trenkwalder C, John U, Kessler C (2004) Sex and the risk of restless leg syndrome in the general population. Arch Intern Med 164:196–202

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tan EK, Seah A, See SJ, Lim E, Wong MC, Koh KK (2001) Restless leg syndrome in an Asian population: a study in Singapore. Mov Disord 16:577–579

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Nomura T, Inoue Y, Kusumi M, Uemura Y, Nakashima K (2008) Prevalence of restless leg syndrome in a rural community in Japan. Mov Disord 23:2363–2369

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Picchietti D, Allen RP, Walters AS, Davidson JE, Myers A, Ferini-Strambi L (2007) Restless legs syndrome: prevalence and impact in children and adolescents—the Peds REST study. Pediatrics 120:253–266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Turkdogan D, Bekiroglu N, Zaimoglu S (2011) A prevalence study of restless legs syndrome in Turkish children and adolescents. Sleep Med 12:315–321

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Yilmaz K, Kilincaslan A, Aydin N, Kor D (2011) Prevalence and correlates of restless legs syndrome in adolescents. Dev Med Child Neurol 53:40–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Dahl RE (1996) The impact of inadequate sleep on children’s daytime cognitive function. Semin Pediatr Neurol 3:44–50

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Randazzo AC, Muehlbach MJ, Schweitzer PK, Walsh JK (1998) Cognitive function following acute sleep restriction in children ages 10-14. Sleep 21:861–868

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Roberts RE, Roberts CR, Chen IG (2002) Impact of insomnia on future functioning of adolescents. J Psychosom Res 53:561–569

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Durmer JS, Dinges DF (2005) Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Semin Neurol 25:117–129

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fallone G, Acebo C, Seifer R, Carskadon MA (2005) Experimental restriction of sleep opportunity in children: effects on teacher ratings. Sleep 28:1561–1567

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Dahl RE (2005) Sleep, learning, and the developing brain: early-tobed as a healthy and wise choice for school aged children. Sleep 28:1498–1499

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Beebe DW (2006) Neurobehavioral morbidity associated with disordered breathing during sleep in children: a comprehensive review. Sleep 29:1115–1134

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank all the participants and staff who took part in the questionnaire survey. This investigation received financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (U1304804) and The Youth Innovation Fund of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Rui Xue

  2. Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Gangqiong Liu & Ling Li

  3. Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Shengli Ma

  4. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Yang

Authors
  1. Rui Xue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gangqiong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shengli Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jing Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ling Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rui Xue.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xue, R., Liu, G., Ma, S. et al. An epidemiologic study of restless legs syndrome among Chinese children and adolescents. Neurol Sci 36, 971–976 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2206-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2206-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation