Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Aims

1. Evaluate documentation and screening rates of RLS in Parkinson’s disease outpatients.
2. Assess the frequency and prescribing patterns of pramipexole for the management of RLS.

Methods

A retrospective audit was conducted on clinic letters from the outpatient Parkinson’s disease clinic at Osborne Park Hospital over a six-month period (January 2024 – June 2024).

• Only the first clinic visit per patient was included to avoid duplication.
• Patients with benign essential tremor were excluded.

Results

Total number of patients 59. Prevenance of RLS 13.5% (n=8). RLS discussed during consultation 10%. Patients on pramipexole 75% (n=8). Patients with RLS not on treatment 25% (n=8).

Conclusion and Recommendations

The 13.5% prevalence of documented RLS aligns with published data (14–20%). ³ RLS was recorded in the past medical history but not discussed in the current highlights a potential gap on symptom review, given its potential to worsen with Parkinson’s disease progression. ^3,6Routine discussions are important to ensure optimal symptom management. RLS was discussed in 10% of consultations. Under-documentation rather than low prevalence may explain the observed rates. This underlines the need for a standardised screening question or template within movement disorder consultations to ensure consistent assessment. Pramipexole was the only agent assessed in this audit due to its common use. Given emerging guideline recommendations favouring gabapentinoids due to lower risk of augmentation and long-term complications regular medication review and symptom monitoring are recommended.⁷  Future audits should broaden to include non-dopaminergic therapies and evaluate the introduction of structured RLS screening tools.