A Clinical Approach to Recognizing and Diagnosing Restless Leg Syndrome: Shalini Paruthi, MD, FAASM

WATCH TIME: 3 minutes

"Now with restless leg syndrome, there is no blood test or scan type of test that we would do to diagnose it. It's really based on their clinical symptoms that they describe in the office or that we ask the right questions to get their responses.”

Adequate sleep is essential for patients to maintain their overall health, safety, and well-being, and it stands as 1 of the 3 key pillars of a healthy lifestyle, alongside balanced nutrition and consistent exercise.¹ Unfortunately, those with restless legs syndrome (RLS) may often struggle with sleep disruptions. This discomfort associated with the condition can interfere with both falling asleep and staying asleep, resulting in chronic sleep deprivation and daytime fatigue. Over time, the lack of restful sleep because of RLS can lead to patients to have heightened irritability and impaired focus during daily activities.

A recent online survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) conducted earlier this year revealed that out of 2006 patients in the United States, 13% of respondents reported a diagnosis of RLS.¹ In another survey, conducted by the RLS Foundation and titled “the Patient ODYSSEY II Survey,” results showed that patients with RLS experienced depression and anxiety at 4 times the rate of the general U.S. population. Both findings from these surveys suggest the importance of addressing RLS for better sleep outcomes such as with timely diagnosis and commencement of treatment.

In honor of Restless Legs Syndrome Awareness Day, held September 23, 2024, Shalini Paruthi, MD, FAASM, AASM spokesperson and chair of the board of directors of the RLS Foundation, sat down with NeurologyLive^® for an interview to discuss the 4 clinical criteria used to diagnose RLS in patients. Paruthi, who also serves as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, talked about how RLS presents differently across various age groups and during pregnancy. Moreover, she spoke about the challenges that arise in diagnosing RLS without relying on blood tests or imaging.

REFERENCES
1. Restless legs lead to restless nights: More than one in 10 Americans report having an RLS diagnosis. News Release. American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Published September 9, 2024. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.newswise.com/articles/restless-legs-lead-to-restless-nights-more-than-one-in-10-americans-report-having-an-rls-diagnosis