IngentaConnect Diagnosing restless legs syndrome (RLS) in primary care

Authors: K. Ray Chaudhuri¹; Alison Forbes¹; Donald Grosset²; Andrew Lees³; John Shneerson⁴; Anthony Schapira⁵; Paul Stillman⁶; Adrian Williams⁷

Source: Current Medical Research and Opinion, Volume 20, Number 11, November 2004 , pp. 1785-1795(11)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

This paper represents a review of current opinion and information on the effective diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a primary care setting. RLS can be a distressing condition – it can cause serious sleep disturbance and has a significant impact on quality of life comparable to that of depression or type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of adults whose RLS is severe enough to warrant medical advice has been estimated to be approximately 3%, but only a small proportion of these patients currently report having been diagnosed in primary care, despite stating that they have presented to their GP. The benefits of increased understanding of the symptoms of RLS and how patients present in primary care are discussed, with emphasis on how this will help GPs more effectively diagnose and manage the patients affected. Guidelines on how to diagnose RLS in a primary care setting are given – when a patient presents with sleep disturbance, RLS should be routinely considered and, where existing, be readily diagnosed in a primary care setting on the basis of the patient's clinical history, a physical examination and with the aid of four questions based on the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) four essential diagnostic criteria.

Keywords: DIAGNOSIS; PRIMARY CARE; QUALITY OF LIFE; RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME RLS; SLEEP DISTURBANCE

Document Type: Commentary

DOI: 10.1185/030079904X5472

Affiliations: 1: Kings College and University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK 2: Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK 3: Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK 4: Respiratory Support and Sleep Centre, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK 5: University Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School; and Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK 6: Primary Care Physician, Sussex, UK 7: Sleep, Disorders Centre, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK

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