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Who Develops Restless Legs Syndrome?
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RLS symptoms may occur secondary to another condition but the majority of
patients have primary (of unknown aetiology) RLS.
Various, large scale analyses have revealed that adults of all ages
may be affected by RLS but the prevalence increases with age. RLS
typically presents in middle age but symptoms may date back to childhood
years when symptoms may have been wrongly diagnosed as "growing pains"
or "hyperactivity". Many patients diagnosed with the disorder report
experiencing symptoms before the age of 20 years. More than 60% of
patients with RLS report that their symptoms become progressively
worse with age so symptoms may have been present for many years before
medical attention was sought. Patients may experience increasing daytime
fatigue as symptoms get worse and sleep becomes more fragmented often
due to PLMS.
There is evidence from large study groups in the US and Europe that
suggest that RLS is associated with a higher body-mass index, lower
income, smoking, lack of exercise, low alcohol consumption and diabetes
mellitus. Women may be affected marginally more often than men and
the disorder may have different frequencies in different ethnic and
national groups. Recent evidence suggests a higher incidence amongst
patients with somatic complaints (including cardiac problems and hypertension)
and it is hypothesised in those with neuropsychiatric symptoms. |
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