Epidemiological profile of Parkinson’s disease: a hospital based descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD), in general, is categorized into five stages based on Hoehn and Yahr staging marking its clinical progression, and is associated with various comorbidities. The diagnosis of PD, however, is relied on clinical manifestations that occur after significant neurological damage in patients. Objective of current study was to study the epidemiological profile of PD patients to identify their stage at diagnosis, associated comorbidities and their treatment-seeking behaviour. 

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at the Movement disorders outpatient department where a total of sixty patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD were enrolled. They were correlated with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale for staging assessment and questioned regarding other chronic illness they suffer, if any, using a standardized questionnaire for comorbidity assessment and treatment procedure they underwent.

Results: The patients reported for the study were mostly males (63%) with a mean age of 58 years. Among them, 90% of patients were at Stage I and II of illness and 63% had some comorbidity like Hypertension while 37% of patients had no comorbidity. Most of them (58%) were diagnosed and treated immediately on the appearance of the first clinical symptom at Government institutions. Also, we found that 70% of patients had no awareness of PD. 

Conclusions: Thus we conclude that the early stage of disease observed in most patients, despite longer duration may suggest that early diagnosis can help in alleviation of symptoms. However, this observation needs a larger study to provide better and conclusive evidence.