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Table 5 Incident functional limitations predicted by Restless Legs Syndrome* at baseline (2002, Nā€‰=ā€‰1008) in the Health and Retirement Study (Follow-up until 2008)

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

Functional Limitation Outcome

Ā Ā 

Unadjustedā€ 

Multivariate Adjustedā€ 

Ā 

At Risk

Disability

HR

95% CI

p

HR

95% CI

p

Mobility limitations

524

247

2.26

(1.21, 4.23)

0.01

1.90

(0.97, 3.70)

0.06

Difficulty climbing several flights

564

246

3.13

(2.03, 4.85)

<0.001

2.38

(1.39, 4.06)

0.002

Difficulty climbing one flight

780

180

3.62

(2.36, 5.55)

<0.001

1.51

(0.96, 2.40)

0.08

Large muscle group limitations

371

210

1.97

(0.86, 4.53)

0.11

1.01

(0.48, 2.12)

0.98

Some difficulty sitting for 2 hours

745

178

3.26

(2.12, 5.01)

<0.001

2.17

(1.25, 3.75)

0.006

Some difficulty rising from chair

565

224

3.16

(2.11, 4.73)

<0.001

2.54

(1.62, 3.99)

<0.001

Difficulty with stooping

518

245

4.09

(2.86, 5.86)

<0.001

2.66

(1.71, 4.15)

<0.001

Pushing or pulling a large object

721

238

3.23

(2.01, 5.19)

<0.001

1.79

(1.08, 2.99)

0.02

Gross motor limitationsā€  (At least 1)

731

212

2.43

(1.46, 4.03)

0.001

0.91

(0.52, 1.59)

0.73

Fine motor limitationsā€” (At least 1)

826

154

2.45

(1.50, 4.01)

<0.001

1.18

(0.72, 1.94)

0.52

Difficulty with lifting or carrying 10ā€‰lb

744

206

3.02

(1.99, 4.59)

<0.001

1.61

(1.05, 2.46)

0.03

Difficulty picking up a dime

872

89

2.97

(1.69, 5.21)

<0.001

1.97

(1.12, 3.46)

0.02

Difficulty reaching or extending arms up

799

173

3.22

(2.06, 5.06)

<0.001

1.76

(1.05, 2.97)

0.03

ADL limitations (At least 1)

807

162

1.94

(1.11, 3.40)

0.02

0.64

(0.36, 1.13)

0.12

IADL limitations (At least 1)

843

139

2.62

(1.50, 4.57)

0.001

1.05

(0.60, 1.82)

0.87

  1. * Restless Legs symptoms defined as unpleasant or restless sensations in the legs at least once per week, and reporting ā€œrestless, fidgety, or unable to sit stillā€ feelings at rest and the need to ā€œmove, rub, or stretch legsā€ (nā€‰=ā€‰104 in 2002).
  2. ā€  Unadjusted hazard ratio shows incident disability. Functional limitation was assessed biannually, subjects censored if no longer eligible at follow-up waves. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio includes variables adjusted for in Table 3 (cross-sectionally associated with RLS, 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), as well as time-varying covariates associated with RLS in the follow-up waves (incident stroke, incident psychiatric diagnosis).
  3. ā€  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.
  4. ā€” Fine motor limitations defined as at least some difficulty in one of these domains: Picking up a dime, feeding oneself, or dressing oneself.
  5. Abbreviations: HRā€‰=ā€‰hazard ratio; CIā€‰=ā€‰confidence interval; ADLā€‰=ā€‰Activities of Daily Living; IADLā€‰=ā€‰Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; yā€‰=ā€‰years; lbā€‰=ā€‰pounds.