Sex and the risk of XXXX in the general population.

@entity1 @entity4531
BACKGROUND: @entity4531 ( @entity4531 ) is characterized by the desire to move the limbs associated with paresthesias of the legs, a motor restlessness, an intensification of symptoms at rest with relief by activity, and a worsening of symptoms in the evening or at night. Population-based studies are rare, and risk factors in the general population are not known. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey with face-to-face interviews and physical examination among 4310 @entity1 in the Study of Health in Pomerania in northeastern Germany. @entity1 were aged 20 to 79 years and were randomly selected from population registers. @entity4531 was assessed with standardized, validated questions addressing the 4 minimal criteria for @entity4531 as defined by the International @entity4531 Study Group. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of @entity4531 was 10.6%, increasing with age, and @entity1 were twice as often affected as @entity1 . While nulliparous @entity1 had prevalences similar to those among @entity1 up to age 64 years, the risk of @entity4531 increased gradually for @entity1 with 1 @entity1 (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.13), 2 @entity1 (odds ratio, 3.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.11-4.40), and 3 or more @entity1 (odds ratio, 3.57; 95% confidence interval, 2.30-5.55). Subjects with @entity4531 had significantly lower quality-of-life scores than those without the syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: @entity4531 is a common disease in the general population, affecting @entity1 more often than @entity1 . It is associated with reduced quality of life in cross-sectional analysis. Parity is a major factor in explaining the sex difference and may guide further clarification of the etiology of the disease.
