The rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder in Chinese-Taiwanese patients

Aims: While the features of rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have been reported in Caucasian patients, the characteristics of Chinese-Taiwanese patients with RBD have never been examined. Methods: Subjects were retrospectively recruited between April 2005 and February 2008 from the neurological clinic and sleep laboratory in the Department of Neurology of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. A total of 70 consecutive subjects fulfilling the criteria for RBD were recruited. Results: The records of standard overnight polysomnography in patients with RBD were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-five (35.7%) of the patients were female; the mean age of diagnosis was 67 years and the mean age of symptom onset was 60 years. Among patients with idiopathic RBD, there were 28 men (61%) and 18 women (39%). Nocturnal wandering in the bedroom was reported in 11 cases and out of the bedroom in seven cases. Nineteen patients (27.1%) had accidental falling from bed and 27 patients (38.6%) had sleep-related injury that resulted in ecchymosis and laceration of the head, face or limbs. Conclusions: We found that some features in Chinese-Taiwanese patients with RBD were different from Caucasian patients, such as a greater female ratio, lower injury episodes during sleep and more sleep wandering.