RLS Self-Administered Diagnosistic Questionnaire (AAN 2001)

Subject: RLS Self-Administered Diagnosistic Questionnaire (AAN 2001)

Date: 5/8/2001

E-MOVE reports from the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia May 5-11, 2001. Poster and Platform session numbers refer to abstracts published in Neurology 2001;56 (Supplement 3).

1. S02.002 Validation of a diagnostic questionnaire for the restless legs syndrome (RLS)
RP Allen, CJ Earley

The Hopkins Diagnostic Questionnaire is a simple self-administered instrument with high sensitivity and specificity, according to this report. Of forty-eight consecutive patients reporting to a sleep disorders clinic, 20 were diagnosed with RLS based on clinical interview. Patients also answered the 10-question self-administered questionnaire based on International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria. Results were compared to diagnosis by a board- certified sleep disorders specialist blinded to questionnaire results. Sensitivity of the questionnaire compared to specialist diagnosis was 92%, and specificity was 96%.

2. P01.001 Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in a primary care population
DA Nichols, CA Kushida, RP Allen, et al.

Use of the Hopkins Diagnostic Questionnaire in a general medical practice has high sensitivity and specificity, according to this report. Of 1866 consecutive patients presenting at a general medical practice in rural Idaho, 1688 completed the questionnaire. The 410 patients scoring positive for RLS and a random selection of other patients completed additional questionnaires and a sleep log, and were interviewed by one of three primary care physicians trained by specialists to diagnose RLS. Medical charts were then reviewed by an RLS specialist. All physicians were blinded to questionnaire results.

Compared to the RLS specialist, the diagnostic sensitivity of the questionnaire was 93.9%, while specificity was 85.3%. Compared to the specialist, the diagnositic sensitivity of the primary care physicians was 94.6%, and specificity was 89.2%. Prevalence of RLS in this rural Caucasian population was 25%, approximately twice that observed in most other populations.

E-MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE

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