Restless Legs Syndrome in shift workers: A cross sectional study on male assembly workers

This cross sectional study was conducted in an automobile manufacturing factory in Tehran, Iran. A total of 780 male assembly workers were recruited in three groups, each with 260 workers: workers on a permanent morning shift (A) and two different rotating shift schedules (B and C) with morning, afternoon and night shifts. We used the international RLS study group criteria for diagnosis of RLS, and the severity scale for severity assessment in subjects with RLS. Self administered questionnaires were used to gather information on age, smoking, work history, medical condition, and existence and severity of RLS symptoms.The prevalence of RLS was significantly higher in rotational shift workers (15%) than workers with permanent morning work schedule (8.5%). In workers suffering from RLS, we found greater mean values of age and work experience, higher percentages of drug consumption, smoking, and co-morbid illnesses compared with subjects who did not have RLS, although these differences were statistically significant only for age, work experience and drug consumption.Rotational shift work acts as a risk or exacerbating factor for Restless Legs Syndrome.Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a relatively common, under-diagnosed and treatable neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the limbs to stop uncomfortable sensory symptoms in the extremities [1]. Typical symptoms involve the legs, but the arms can also become involved [2].Currently, there is no single diagnostic test for RLS. The disorder is diagnosed clinically by evaluating the patient's history and symptoms. The clinical features of RLS were first fully characterized by Ekbom in the 1940s [1,3]. The most recent RLS diagnostic criteria were developed at a workshop held by the National Institutes of Health with the members of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) [4]. Four essential criteria for the diagnosis of RLS are: 1) a compelling urge to move the limbs, usually as