Exclusion of mimics does not influence Willis-Ekbom disease diagnosis among recent medical graduates

ABSTRACT

In view of the diagnostic challenge posed by restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) to health professionals and the challenge of its recognition by patients, the diagnostic criteria have been revised and updated to facilitate identification of this disease. However, in a previous study, we found that self-diagnosis of RLS/WED depends on the very name used to describe the condition.

Objective: To ascertain whether the presence of the fifth diagnostic criterion of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG), is necessary for RLS/WED diagnosis when the term “Willis-Ekbom disease” is used.

Methods: We randomly distributed 705 forms to recent medical graduates, asking them to self-assess whether they had “Willis-Ekbom disease” (WED). In one questionnaire model, we excluded the fifth criterion suggested by the IRLSSG, while in the other, all five criteria were included. No forms contained the term RLS; only WED was used throughout.

Results: Seven hundred and five recent medical graduates participated in the study. Among the 332 who received the form without the fifth criterion, 8 (2.41%) self-diagnosed as having WED (95%CI: 0.8%-4.1%). Of the 373 who received the form with all five of the 2014 IRLSSG criteria, 9 (2.41%) self-diagnosed as having WED (95%CI: 0.8%-4.0%) (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our data show that presence of the fifth IRLSSG criterion did not influence self-diagnosis of WED among recent medical graduates, suggesting that the name WED reduces the odds of mimics (confounding conditions) being misinterpreted as symptoms of this disease. This finding indicates that for the diagnosis of RLS/WED only four criteria and a systematic use of the name WED are necessary.

RESUMO

Frente ao desafio diagnóstico da síndrome das pernas inquietas/doença de Willis-Ekbom (SPI/DWE) pelos profissionais de saúde e também seu reconhecimento pelos pacientes, os critérios de diagnóstico vêm sendo revisados e atualizados para facilitar a identificação dessa doença, porém, em estudo anterior, observamos que o autodiagnóstico da SPI/DWE depende do próprio nome utilizado para descrevê-la.

Objetivo: Verificar se a presença do quinto critério do International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) é necessária para o diagnóstico da SPI/DWE quando utilizamos apenas a expressão/denominação DWE.

Métodos: Distribuímos aleatoriamente 705 formulários solicitando a médicos recém-formados que avaliassem se eles tinham DWE. Em um tipo de questionário, excluímos o quinto critério diagnóstico sugerido pelo IRLSSG e no outro mantivemos os cinco critérios. Em nenhum formulário apresentamos o termo SPI, apenas DWE.

Resultados: Setecentos e cinco médicos recém-formados participaram do estudo. Dentre os 332 médicos que receberam o formulário sem o quinto critério, 8 (2,41%) autodiagnosticaram-se com DWE (IC 95%: 0,8%-4,1%). Trezentos e setenta e três médicos receberam o formulário com os 5 critérios do IRLSSG (2014) e 9 (2,41%) autodiagnosticaram-se como tendo DWE (IC 95%: 0,8%-4,0%) (p > 0.05).

Conclusão: Nossos dados mostraram que a presença do quinto critério do IRLSSG não influenciou a realização do autodiagnóstico da DWE entre médicos recém-formados, sugerindo que a denominação DWE reduz a chance de condições confundidoras serem tomadas como sintomas desta doença. Este achado está de acordo com dados anteriores, onde mostramos que o autodiagnóstico da SPI/DWE é dependente da denominação utilizada para descrever a doença.

Keywords:

Restless legs syndrome - Willis-Ekbom disease - diagnosis

Palavras-chave:

Síndrome das pernas inquietas - doença de Willis-Ekbom - diagnóstico

Publication History

Received: 19 July 2018

Accepted: 05 September 2018

Article published online:
22 August 2023

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