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

BMC Geriatrics

Table 4 **Cross-sectional associations (Prevalence Ratios) between restless legs syndrome* and functional limitations in the Health and Retirement Study 2002 survey (N = 1008)**

Functional Limitation Outcome	Total (N)	Limited (N)	%	PR*	95% CI	P
Mobility limitations (At least 1)	1008	454	45.0	1.25	(1.08, 1.46)	0.004
Some difficulty walking several blocks	994	273	27.5	1.43	(1.12, 1.82)	0.004
Difficulty climbing several flights	900	408	45.3	1.16	(0.98, 1.36)	0.09
Large muscle group limitations (At least 1)	1008	611	60.6	1.20	(1.06, 1.36)	0.004
Some difficulty sitting for 2 hours	997	191	19.2	1.29	(0.95, 1.76)	0.11
Some difficulty rising from chair	1007	397	39.4	1.20	(0.96, 1.49)	0.11
Difficulty with stooping	997	451	45.2	1.15	(0.96, 1.38)	0.14
Pushing or pulling a large object	957	227	23.7	1.56	(1.18, 2.07)	0.002
Gross motor limitations† (At least 1)	1008	222	22.0	1.13	(0.86, 1.49)	0.37
Fine motor limitations‡ (At least 1)	1008	112	11.1	1.42	(0.89, 2.26)	0.14
Difficulty reaching or extending arms up	1007	139	13.8	1.68	(1.10, 2.55)	0.02
ADL limitations (At least 1)	1008	136	13.5	1.46	(1.00, 2.11)	0.05
Specific ADLs
Dressing oneself	1008	74	7.3	2.23	(1.26, 3.95)	0.006
Bathing oneself	1008	53	5.3	1.69	(0.80, 3.59)	0.17
Transferring into or out of bed	1007	46	4.6	2.07	(1.01, 4.23)	0.05
Toileting	1008	51	5.1	2.16	(1.04, 4.52)	0.04
IADL limitations (At least 1)	1008	97	9.6	1.71	(1.13, 2.59)	0.01
Specific IADLs
Using a telephone	1008	20	2.0	0.26	(0.06, 1.22)	0.09
Preparing Meals	952	43	4.5	2.96	(1.47, 5.95)	0.002

* Restless Legs symptoms defined as unpleasant or restless sensations in the legs at least once per week, and reporting “restless, fidgety, or unable to sit still” feelings at rest and the need to “move, rub, or stretch legs” (n = 104). Adjusted for significant covariates from analysis in Table 3, including: age, gender, income category (quartiles), health interfering with ability to work, pain symptoms (mild-moderate or severe compared to none), other sleep symptoms (walking too easily or too early), body mass index, current drinking status, number of chronic medications used, out-of-pocket medical expenses (quartiles), number of doctor visits in the last 2 y, and falls in the previous 2 y.
† Gross motor limitations defined as at least some difficulty in one of these domains: Walking 1 block, walking with an assistive device, climbing 1 flight of stairs, transferring, or bathing.
‡ Fine motor limitations defined as at least some difficulty in one of these domains: Picking up a dime, feeding oneself, or dressing oneself.
Abbreviations: PR = prevalence ratio; CI = confidence interval; ADL = Activities of Daily Living; IADL = Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; y = years.

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