Chest
Original Research: Sleep MedicinePrevalence and Correlates of Restless Legs Syndrome: Results From the 2005 National Sleep Foundation Poll
Section snippets
NSF Poll
Data pertaining to the prevalence of RLS in this report are from the 2005 NSF annual Sleep in America poll. The NSF is an independent nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving an understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting education, sleep-related research, and advocacy (www.sleepfoundation.org). Established in 1990, the NSF relies on voluntary contributions as well as grants from foundations, corporations, government agencies,
Results
In the total poll sample, a similar number of women (n = 775) and men (n = 731) were interviewed, and their mean age was 49 years. Sixty-two percent were married, 33% were single, and 5% were living with someone (“partnered”). Consistent with the US population, 36% lived in the south, 21% in the west, 24% in the midwest, and 19% in the northeast; 84% were white/white and 16% were minorities; and 52% were employed full-time and, of those, 80% worked regular day shifts.
Fifteen percent of
Discussion
New findings in this study are a reduced risk of RLS symptoms for those in the northeastern United States, and the association of the risk of RLS with the risk for sleep apnea and impaired daytime performance.
The NSF 2005 poll shows that, consistent with other studies, about 10% of the US adult population reports RLS symptoms. In addition, this study also demonstrates interesting regional variations in the prevalence of RLS symptoms; we think that this is the first time this has been reported.
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