Prevalence of restless legs syndrome during pregnancy and postpartum period

Abstract

Objectives: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disease from the spectrum of movement disorders, the prevalence of which increases significantly during pregnancy and is associated with poor sleep, a drop in daytime energy, and the development of psychological disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Methods: The IRLSS scale was used to determine the presence of RLS symptoms. The total test sample that included the tested and control groups was (n=390) subjects. The examined group consisted of pregnant women (n=260), and the control group consisted of female students (n=130). In total, 260 pregnant women were monitored 6 months after pregnancy. Three measurements were performed, first in the third trimester of pregnancy, second two months after delivery, third 6 months after delivery, while one cross-sectional measurement was performed for the control group.

Results: The prevalence of RLS in pregnancy is highest in the third trimester and amounts to 26.5 %. In the postpartum period, a significant decrease in the prevalence of RLS was observed, measured two months after delivery (18.1 %). Postpartum, over time, a decrease in the prevalence of RLS was noticed, and six months after delivery it was (7.3 %), when it practically approached the prevalence of the control group (standard population) which was (6.2 %).

Conclusions: The prevalence of RLS is highest during the third trimester of pregnancy and decreases after delivery so that 6 months after delivery it approaches the prevalence of the standard population.

Keywords: Willis–Ekbom disease; pregnancy; prevalence; restless legs syndrome.