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Epidemiology of restless legs syndrome in French adults

A nationwide survey: The INSTANT Study

From Hôpital Haut Levêque (Dr. Tison), Pessac; Laboratoires GlaxoSmithKline (Drs. Crochard and El Hasnaoui), Marly le Roi; Hôtel de Dieu de Paris (Dr. Léger), Paris; CEMKA-EVAL (Dr. Bouée), Bourg la Reine; and Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (Dr. Lainey), Paris, France.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Anne Crochard, Laboratoire GlaxoSmithKline, 100 route de Versailles, 78163 Marly-Le-Roi Cedex, France; e-mail: anne.l.crochard{at}gsk.com

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in France.

Methods: In this population-based survey, face-to-face home interviews were conducted among a random sample of 10,263 French adults. A French translation of the four features defined by the International RLS Study Group in 1995 was used to assess the prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of RLS. Data on severity of symptoms and their management were also collected.

Results: The 12-month prevalence of RLS symptoms in the French adult population was estimated to be 8.5% (95% CI 8.0%, 9.0%), with a higher prevalence (p < 0.001) observed in women (10.8%) than in men (5.8%). Prevalence increases with age until 64 years and decreases thereafter in both sexes. Half of the identified subjects reported symptoms once a week at least. Symptoms were more severe in subjects reporting symptoms once a week at least compared to subjects with less frequent symptoms. In this group, half of the subjects reported a family history, the age at onset was earlier, and severity of symptoms higher. RLS had been previously diagnosed in only 5.3% of the subjects who reported previous medical diagnosis, and recommended RLS drug treatment was received by 3.4% of the 28.7% currently treated subjects.

Conclusions: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurred in 10% of women and 5% of men. RLS prevalence decreases after the age of 64. RLS is often underdiagnosed and few subjects receive recommended RLS drug treatment.

Additional material related to this article can be found on the Neurology Web site. Go to www.neurology.org and scroll down the Table of Contents for the July 26 issue to find the title link for this article.

Supported by Laboratoire GlaxoSmithKline, France, which initiated the study, financed its implementation and the data analysis, and coordinated the preparation of this article.

Drs. Tison, Léger, Bouée, and Lainey have received honoraria from Laboratorie GlaxoSmithKline. Drs. Crochard and El Hasnaoui are employees of Laboratorie GlaxoSmithKline.

Received September 10, 2004. Accepted in final form April 13, 2005.

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