Successful Use of a Single Question in Restless Legs Syndrome Screening in the Czech Republic

Czech version

Authors: K. Šonka ¹; M. Pretl ¹; P. Havránková ¹; J. Volná ¹; P. Dušek ¹; A. Salvet ¹; W. A. Hening ²
Authors‘ workplace: Neurologická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha ¹; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey ²
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2007; 70/103(6): 685-686
Category: Short Communication

Práce vznikla s podporou grantu IGA MZČR NR8086/3-2004

Overview

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder whose diagnosis relies primarily on the physician’s clinical interview. Because many patients with RLS are not diagnosed, it would be useful to have a screening question that could select those who might be further interviewed for the presence of RLS. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) developed a single question screener; we have now translated it into Czech and tested in on a population of patients coming for diagnosis to a sleep clinic. 29 of 133 patients were diagnosed with RLS based on a complete physician interview. The screening question identified 28 of these individuals (sensitivity of 96.6%) while only 6 individuals without RLS endorsed the question (specificity of 94.2%).

Key words:
restless legs syndrome –⁠ screening –⁠ sensitivity –⁠ specificity

Sources

1. Berger K, Luedemann J, Trenkwalder C, John U, Kessler C. Sex and the risk of restless legs syndrome in the general population. Arch Intern Med 2004; 164 : 196–202.

2. Allen RP, Walters AS, Montplaisir J, Hening W, Myers A, Bell TJ, Ferini-Strambi L. Restless legs syndrome prevalence and impact: REST general population study. Arch Intern Med 2005; 165 : 1286–1292.

3. Šonka K. Syndrom neklidných nohou. Praha: Maxdorf 2006.

4. Allen RP, Picchietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisir J. Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosis and Epidemiology workshop at the National Institutes of Health; International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, Restless legs syndrome, diagnostic criteria, special considerations, and epidemiology. A report from the restless legs syndrome diagnosis and epidemiology workshop at the National Institutes of Health. Sleep Med 2003; 4 : 101–109.

5. Montplaisir J, Allen RP, Walters AS, Ferini-Strambi L. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements during sleep. In: Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC (eds). Principles and practice of sleep medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders 2005 : 839-852.