Scientific Investigations
Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence and Predictors of Restless Legs Syndrome between Hispanics of Mexican Descent and Non-Hispanic Whites in San Diego County: A Population-Based Study
http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2338
Kittisak Sawanyawisuth, M.D.1; Lawrence A. Palinkas, Ph.D.2; Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D., F.A.A.S.M.3; Joel E. Dimsdale, M.D.3; José S. Loredo, M.D., F.A.A.S.M.3
1Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 2University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; 3University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
Study Objectives:
To investigate the prevalence and predictors of RLS in Hispanics of Mexican descent (HMD) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW).
Design:
A population-based random digit dialing telephone questionnaire.
Setting:
San Diego County California
Participants:
1,754 HMD and 1,913 NHW adults ≥ 18 years of age able to participate in a telephone interview in English or Spanish.
Measurements and Results:
RLS was defined by the presence of all 4 criteria of the International Restless Legs Study Group. Sleepiness was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Acculturation was evaluated using the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. Risk factors for RLS were by self-report. The survey was conducted in the subject's language of choice. RLS prevalence was significantly lower in HMD than in NHW (14.4% vs.18.3%, p = 0.002). High acculturation HMD had a significantly greater RLS prevalence than the low acculturation group (17.4% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.008). Predictors of RLS varied between HMD and NHW. Female gender (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04, 1.90, p = 0.027), smoking (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.27, 2.61, p = 0.001), and acculturation (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10, 1.97, p = 0.009) were independent predictors of RLS in HMD, while only older age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.0, 1.02) was an independent predictor of RLS for NHW.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of RLS was significantly lower in HMD than in NHW, and significantly greater in high acculturation HMD. Our data suggest that risk factors for RLS vary by race/ethnicity and acculturation is an independent risk for RLS in HMD.
Citation:
Sawanyawisuth K; Palinkas LA; Ancoli-Israel S; Dimsdale JE; Loredo JS. Ethnic differences in the prevalence and predictors of restless legs syndrome between Hispanics of Mexican descent and non-Hispanic whites in San Diego county: a population-based study. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(1):47-53.
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