Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome

The prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is approximately 10% of the U.S. adult population, including mild, moderate, and severe RLS.4,6

• Age: Restless Legs Syndrome can occur at any age but is primarily a condition of middle to older age.5
  
  
• Gender: Women are more likely than men to develop Restless Legs Syndrome.3,4

Primary Restless Legs Syndrome

Primary (idiopathic) Restless Legs Syndrome occurs in the absence of identifiable abnormalities and accounts for the majority of cases of Restless Legs Syndrome.5 There is a strong suggestion of a familial component to this syndrome.1,5

Secondary Restless Legs Syndrome

Symptoms that develop as a result of other underlying conditions are known as secondary Restless Legs Syndrome. It is important to rule out secondary Restless Legs Syndrome, which may be associated with a number of conditions, including11,12:

• Iron deficiency
• Pregnancy
• End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
• Various polyneuropathies

Involvement of the Dopaminergic System

Although the pathophysiology of RLS is largely unknown, neuropharmacological evidence suggests primary dopaminergic system involvement. Positron emission tomographic (PET) studies suggest that a mild striatal presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of RLS.13