TY - JOUR
T1 - Pregnancy accounts for most of the gender difference in prevalence of familial RLS
AU - Pantaleo, Nicholas P.
AU - Hening, Wayne A.
AU - Allen, Richard P.
AU - Earley, Christopher J.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the associated risk of RLS with pregnancy in relation to the family history and the age of symptom onset of RLS. Methods and subjects: Data from a prior RLS family history study in which 1019 subjects (527 males, 492 females) were interviewed, provided a diagnosis and characterization of RLS and determination of pregnancy status on which the current study analysis was undertaken. Results: In the family members of RLS probands, the prevalence of RLS was significantly higher for parous women than for nulliparous women (49.5% vs. 33.7%, OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.16-3.19) or for men (49.5% vs. 30.0%, OR 2.29, 1.69-3.10), but no different for nulliparous women compared to men (33.7% vs. 30.0%, OR 1.19, 0.72-1.96). When only those whose RLS started at or after age 30 were considered, similar differences occurred. These differences were not observed among family members of control probands. Conclusions: These data indicate pregnancy has a major impact on the risk of developing RLS for those with a family history of RLS. This pregnancy effect appears to account for most of the gender differences often reported in overall RLS prevalence data.
AB - Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the associated risk of RLS with pregnancy in relation to the family history and the age of symptom onset of RLS. Methods and subjects: Data from a prior RLS family history study in which 1019 subjects (527 males, 492 females) were interviewed, provided a diagnosis and characterization of RLS and determination of pregnancy status on which the current study analysis was undertaken. Results: In the family members of RLS probands, the prevalence of RLS was significantly higher for parous women than for nulliparous women (49.5% vs. 33.7%, OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.16-3.19) or for men (49.5% vs. 30.0%, OR 2.29, 1.69-3.10), but no different for nulliparous women compared to men (33.7% vs. 30.0%, OR 1.19, 0.72-1.96). When only those whose RLS started at or after age 30 were considered, similar differences occurred. These differences were not observed among family members of control probands. Conclusions: These data indicate pregnancy has a major impact on the risk of developing RLS for those with a family history of RLS. This pregnancy effect appears to account for most of the gender differences often reported in overall RLS prevalence data.
KW - Familial RLS
KW - Gender and RLS
KW - Pregnancy and RLS
KW - RLS
KW - RLS prevalence
KW - Restless legs syndrome
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76949098056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=76949098056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.04.005
DO - 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.04.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 19592302
AN - SCOPUS:76949098056
SN - 1389-9457
VL - 11
SP - 310
EP - 313
JO - Sleep Medicine
JF - Sleep Medicine
IS - 3
ER -