Restless legs syndrome and functional limitations among American elders in the Health and Retirement Study

BMC Geriatrics

Table 2 **Prevalence* of symptoms related to restless leg syndrome in the 2002 Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,008)**

Question		Age Group			Gender
	Total	50-64	65-79	80+	Female	Male
	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)
Reported Leg Symptoms at Night					†	†
Never	59.8	61.3	57.4	62.3	55.1	65.8
Less than once/month	14.0	12.1	16.3	13.7	15.0	12.7
At least once/month but < weekly	6.3	7.4	5.7	4.1	6.6	5.9
At least once/week	19.9	19.2	20.6	20.0	23.3	15.6
Crawling or aching arms or legs at rest	37.9	39.8	36.4	35.7	44.0‡	30.2‡
Restless, fidgety, or unable sit still at rest	25.2	28.1	23.5	20.2	27.9†	21.7†
Need to move, rub, or stretch legs at rest	53.0	53.7	52.0	53.4	57.0‡	47.9‡
Twitching or kicking of arms or legs	17.9	21.2†	14.9†	15.2†	15.1†	21.4†
Itching sensations on body at rest	20.9	20.2	21.2	22.5	25.2†	15.6†
Discussed problems with doctor §	43.4	38.5†	51.1†	39.3†	44.0	42.7
Prescribed treatment for restlessness \|\|	40.4	33.3	43.0	54.1	47.8‡	29.8‡
Treatment helped ¶	78.8	81.4	74.9	85.0	80.7	73.9
Case Definition **	10.6	11.9	9.7	8.4	13.5‡	7.0‡

* = Prevalence estimates weighted to represent non-institutionalized U.S. population aged 54 or older.
χ² test for association in all dichotomous questions. Test for trend performed for RLS symptoms at night by gender. For age associations, test for trend was not-significant but χ² test for nominal association was significant. † p < 0.05.
‡ p < 0.001.
§ Among those with any symptoms (n = 509).
|| = Among those who sought medical advice (n = 239);
¶ = Among those with prescribed treatment (n = 109).
** = Restless Legs symptoms defined as unpleasant or restless sensations in the legs at least once per month, and reporting “restless, fidgety, or unable to sit still” feelings at rest and the need to “move, rub, or stretch legs” (n = 104).

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