The prevalence of the restless legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease among teenagers, its clinical characteristics and impact on everyday functioning

The data on the prevalence of the Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis -Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) in the population of teenagers is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine RLS/WED occurrence in adolescents, its diagnostic accuracy, family history, clinical characteristics and impact on everyday functioning. A group of 2379 pupils (aged 13–18 y.o.) from 6 randomly selected secondary schools in Gdańsk, Poland were screened for RLS/WED with the use of a questionnaire. In order to verify the diagnosis and perform additional tests (neurological examination, psychological evaluation, biochemical blood tests, demographic questionnaire, International RLS rating scale/IRLSS, Epworth daytime sleepiness scale). all of the respondents with RLS/WED suspicion and their parents were asked for a consultation by a child neurologist. Both children and parents with RLS/WED diagnosis were tested with actigraphy at home for at least two consecutive nights. Two thousand and ninety seven students (88,15%) filled the questionnaire correctly (1171 girls and 926 boys, 56% and 44%). Sixty four respondents were suspected of having RLS/WED (3,1%), however, 36 of them were diagnosed as RLS/WED-mimics (mainly positional discomfort). Finally, 21 (1%) were diagnosed with definite idiopathic RLS/WED. The average age of symptom onset was 10.96 years. The severity was moderate in the most of the cases (61.9%) and the course of the disease was intermittent in all of them. Family history was positive in 80%. Abnormal actigraphy (PLMS index >5/h) was present in 80%. Blood level of ferritin was low (