Cardiovascular comorbidity in patients with restless legs syndrome: current perspectives

Figures & data

Table 1 Summarized International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group consensus diagnostics criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS), 2014 update

Essential diagnostic criteria (all must be met):

An urge to move the legs usually but not always accompanied by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs* The urge to move the legs begins or worsens during periods of rest or inactivity The urge to move the legs is partially or totally relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching The urge to move the legs occurs or is worse in the evening or night than during the day Above features are not solely accounted for symptoms primary to another medical or a behavioral condition (eg, myalgia, venous stasis, leg edema, arthritis, leg cramps, positional discomfort, habitual foot tapping)

Specifiers for clinical course of RLS^Table Footnote#:

Chronic-persistent RLS: symptoms occur on average at least twice weekly in the past year Intermittent RLS: symptoms occur on average <2/week in the past year, with at least five lifetime events

Specifier for clinical significance of RLS:

The symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, educational or other important areas of functioning by their impact on sleep, energy/vitality, daily activities, behavior, cognition or mood.

Notes:

* For children, the description of these symptoms should be in the child’s own words.

# The clinical course criteria apply neither for pediatric cases nor for some special cases of provoked RLS such as pregnancy or drug-induced RLS

Figure 1 Periodic limb movement in sleep. Example of a 2 minute epoch of an adult patient with periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS).

Abbreviations: LOC, left outer canthus; ROC, right outer canthus; chin, chin electromyogram (EMG) channel; F3 and F4, left and right frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) channels; C3 and C4, left and right central EEG channels; O1 and O2, left and right frontal EEG channels; A1 and A2, left and right ear EEG channels; NP, nasal pressure transducer; Airflow, oronasal thermal airflow sensor; Thoracic and Abdomen, dual thoracoabdominal respiratory plethysmography (RIP); SAO2, pulse oximetry; RAT, right anterior tibialis muscle EMG channel; LAT, left anterior tibialis muscle EMG channel; ECG, electrocardiogram; R-R, RR interval.