Prevalence of Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Qena governorate/Egypt: a cross-sectional community-based survey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

In a previous study we found a high crude prevalence rate (CPR) for Parkinson's disease (PD) in Assiut governorate/Egypt. We therefore surveyed a second Nile valley governorate (Qena) to provide confirmatory evidence for the high prevalence rate of PD in Egypt.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

10 areas in Qena governorate were selected by random sampling to recruit 8027 inhabitants. Positive cases were identified using a modified screening questionnaire, the unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) for PD.

RESULTS:

Forty-four patients were identified with Parkinsonism, giving a CPR of 548/10(5) inhabitants. Among them, 35 patients were diagnosed as PD with CPR of 436/10(5); three cases were diagnosed as drug-induced Parkinsonism with CPR 37/10(5); two cases had atherosclerotic Parkinsonism with CPR 25/10(5).Age-specific CPR of PD among population aged ≥ 50 years old was 2534/10(5).The highest age-specific CPR was recorded among subjects ≥ 75 years old. The CPR showed a tendency to be higher in males than females, urban than rural areas and industrial than non-industrial areas (503 vs 363/10(5), 474 vs 389/10(5) and 655 vs 312/10(5), respectively). There was a significantly higher CPR among illiterate than literate persons (1982 vs 299/10(5) with P = 0.00001). About one quarter of patients had cognitive impairment. All cases had positive symptoms in at least one or more NMS Domains.

CONCLUSION:

The overall prevalence of PD disease is high in Nile valley governorates of Upper Egypt compared to other Arabic countries.

• Authors: Eman M Khedr, Gharib Fawi, Mohammed Abd Allah Abbas, Talal A Mohammed, Noha Abo El-Fetoh, Ghada Al Attar, Ahmed F Zaki
• Journal: Neurological research (Neurol Res) Vol. 37 Issue 7 Pg. 607-18 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1743-1328 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25796953 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Egypt (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Mental Status Schedule
• Middle Aged
• Parkinsonian Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Severity of Illness Index
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Urban Population