Childhood and adult factors associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS) diagnosis

This is the first case-controlled study that demonstrates a significant association between blood donation and the occurrence of RLS in males. The association was most significant for those men donating five or more times. Smoking and alcohol use were not related to the occurrence of RLS. Neither childhood growing pains nor attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was related to RLS. The only consistent factor found related to prevalence of RLS for both men and women was the report of 'restless sleep' in childhood.