Frequency and severity of restless leg syndrome in healthcare professionals

Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of restless leg syndrome in healthcare professionals. Study design: It was a descriptive cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in hospitals and clinics of Rawalpindi and Islamabad from March 2022 to July 2023. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals,    including physicians, nurses, dentists and physiotherapists of age 22- 91 years. After obtaining written consent, the participants were evaluated using the five-point diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Leg Syndrome Study Group to determine the frequency of RLS symptoms. Participants who were tested positive for RLS then completed the Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale to assess the severity of symptoms. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: The study included 375 healthcare professionals, with 61% being female and 39% male. According to analysis 19.2% of participants displayed symptoms of restless leg syndrome, out of these 5.3% experienced mild symptoms, moderate symptoms were recorded in 9.6% professionals and 4.3% reported severe symptoms. Most individuals with RLS had mild to moderate symptoms and a healthy BMI. Additionally, the study recorded higher prevalence of moderate symptoms of RLS in professional with more standing hours. Conclusion: This study concluded that frequency of restless leg syndrome (RLS) is less among health care professionals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Severity of RLS is mild to moderate. Keywords: Restless leg syndrome, International restless leg syndrome diagnostic criteria, Restless leg syndrome rating scale.