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Published on: February 8, 2019
Restless legs syndrome in institutionalized elderly
Fábio Galvão Dantas1, Jovany Luis Alves Medeiros, Kelly Soares Farias
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neuropsiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil. fabiogalvaodantas@gmail.com
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 15.6% of institutionalized elderly, often leading to sleep complaints. This common condition in older adults remains frequently underdiagnosed.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS) presents with uncomfortable leg sensations, sleep disturbances, and daytime sleepiness.
- Prevalence in the elderly population ranges from 10% to 35%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of RLS in institutionalized elderly individuals.
- To analyze the relationship between RLS and clinical, laboratorial, and neurophysiological factors in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving face-to-face interviews with institutionalized elderly patients.
- Utilized the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and standardized RLS diagnostic criteria.
- Included neurological examinations, laboratory tests, and neurophysiological evaluations for diagnosed RLS patients.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of RLS was found to be 15.6% in the studied group.
- Women were more frequently affected by RLS.
- Frequent sleep complaints were associated with RLS, but no significant clinical, laboratorial, or neurophysiological correlations were found.
Conclusions:
- RLS is a prevalent condition among institutionalized elderly individuals.
- RLS can significantly contribute to sleep complaints in this demographic.
- The condition is often underdiagnosed in the elderly population.
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