Objective: This systematic review aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and illustrate the updated understanding of the associated pattern of clinical profiles.

Background: RLS is characterized by an urge to move the legs that are usually accompanied by unpleasant sensations over the lower limbs which typically occur during resting, such as sitting or lying down, and relief upon moving the legs. An increased occurrence of RLS has been demonstrated in PD and has been associated with certain clinical profiles which may related to the neurobiological substrates of RLS, and consequently the different risks of future RLS development.

Method: A systematic literature search on RLS in PD from 2000 to 2025 was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Search terms included “restless leg syndrome in Parkinson’s disease,” “restless leg syndrome in neurodegenerative disease,” “sleep disorder in Parkinson’s disease,” and “restless leg syndrome in Parkinsonism.” The article selection procedures adhered to PRISMA guidelines.

Results: 47 articles were selected. The pooled prevalence of RLS in PD is 18% out of 8113 PD patients included in this review. RLS in PD is more common among male patients, at the mean age of 57.4 years old, with the disease duration of 4.38 years and at the average of Hoehn & Yahr stage of 2. Majority of the studies adapted the IRLSSG criteria to diagnose RLS, and only three study use polysomnography in addition to the questionnaires. 23 out of the 47 studies (49%) reported no significant difference in clinical severity and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) in between PD with and without RLS. Only five studies (11%) reported higher UPDRS III score among PD with RLS, and four (9%) reported higher LEDD compared to without RLS group.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the high prevalence of RLS among individuals with PD may indicate a meaningful association between the two conditions. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that the variability across studies may stem from differences in diagnostic methods, which often rely primarily on questionnaires. Additionally, potential diagnostic overlap between RLS and other sensorimotor symptoms of PD, such as akathisia, motor restlessness, or wearing‑off phenomena should also be considered.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/restless-leg-syndrome-in-parkinsons-disease-a-systematic-review-on-the-prevalence-demographic-clinical-profile-and-diagnostic-criteria/