Prevalence and Determinants of Restless Legs Syndrome (Willis-Ekbom Disease) in an Older Greek Population

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The present study aimed to explore the descriptive and analytic epidemiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the older Greek population, with a specific focus on lifestyle indicators.

Methods

Baseline data from the randomly selected non-demented older participants of the population-based HELIAD cohort were analyzed. Multivariable binary logistic regression with RLS diagnosis as the dichotomous dependent outcome was performed. Demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, dietary, sleep-related and psychological parameters, physical activity, use of psychoactive substances and personal medical history were investigated for potential associations.

Results

A total of 133 from the eligible sample of 1,838 participants were diagnosed with RLS. The mean age-sex standardized prevalence of RLS among the elderly was estimated at 6.1% (95%CI = 5.0–7.2), with a female (8.0%, 95%CI = 6.4–9.6) to male (3.7%, 95%CI = 2.4–5.1) ratio of 2.1. The prevalence of RLS peaked during the 8^th decade of life and diminished thereafter. The positive associations of RLS with female sex [OR = 2.06, 95%CI = (1.19–3.57)], anxiety levels [assessed by the 22-point HADS scale, OR = 1.08, 95%CI = (1.03–1.13)] and traumatic brain injury [OR = 2.22, 95%CI = (1.37–3.62)] were reproduced. Good sleep quality was related to 55% [95%CI~(24–83%)] lower odds of having RLS in comparison with both poor and moderate quality. Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern [assessed by a 55-point scale, OR = 1.06, 95%CI = (1.01–1.11)], and low daily energy intake [low-moderate vs. low: OR = 0.45, 95%CI = (0.26–0.79)]; [moderate-high vs. low: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = (0.40–1.22)]; [high vs. low: OR = 0.31, 95%CI = (0.13–0.69)] were related to RLS for the first time.

Conclusions

More emphasis should be placed on the dietary-nutritional aspects of RLS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [E.D.], upon reasonable request.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2022.2112194.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the following grants: IIRG-09-133014 from the Alzheimer’s Association; 189 10276/8/9/2011 from the ESPA-EU program Excellence Grant (ARISTEIA), which is co-funded by the European Social Fund and Greek National resources, and DY2b/oik.51657/14.4.2009 from the Ministry for Health and Social Solidarity (Greece). The funders had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.