AASM invites public comment on draft guideline for the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is inviting public comment on drafts of a clinical practice guideline on the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder and accompanying systematic review.

The public comment period is open for 4 weeks beginning Tuesday, March 12^th, and ending Tuesday, April 9^th. AASM members, nonmember health care professionals, patients, insurance companies, advocacy groups, professional medical societies, and other interested members of the public are invited to review the draft guideline and submit their feedback during this open comment period.

The recommendations in this guideline are based on a systematic review of the scientific and clinical literature on the topic available during the time of development, taking into account the quality of the evidence, patient values and preferences, and the harms/benefits associated with the recommendation.¹ The recommendations in the clinical practice guideline manuscript are in draft form and are still subject to substantive changes by the time they are published in final form. They should not be copied, disseminated, or implemented until final publication.

All comments will be reviewed by the task force charged with developing this guideline. Revisions to the draft guideline and systematic review are at the discretion of the task force, but all submitted comments will be considered and responses internally documented before the guideline is submitted to the AASM Board of Directors for approval for publication in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

All reviewers are requested to complete a disclosure form. You can view and download the full draft clinical practice guideline, systematic review, supplemental materials and disclosure form:

Draft CPG | Draft SR | Supplemental Materials | Disclosure Form

Access a recording of the highlights and major changes of the draft RLS guideline documents presented by the guideline task force Chair and Vice Chair

Video overview of background, methodology, recommendations

Please submit your comments, completed disclosure form, and any questions to ukazmi@aasm.org.

The AASM adopted the use of a public comment period in our guideline development process as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its standards for systematic reviews² and clinical practice guidelines.³

1. Morgenthaler TI, Deriy L, Heald JL, Thomas SM. The Evolution of the AASM Clinical Practice Guidelines: Another Step Forward. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016 Jan;12(1):129-35.

2. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Standards for Systematic Reviews of Comparative Effectiveness Research. Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews. Eden J, Levit L, Berg A, Morton S, editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011.

3. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust. Graham R, Mancher M, Miller Wolman D, Greenfield S, Steinberg E, editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011.