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Abstract
The incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) was studied over a 9-year period (1990-1998) in Tartu county, Estonia, with a mean population of 156,417. Based on 264 patients, the average crude incidence rate of PD was 18.8 per 100,000 person-years. The age-adjusted incidence was 16.8/100,000; 18.3 for the urban group and 14.0 for the rural group; 16.6 for men and 17.1 for women. The age-specific incidence was 1.0/100,000 in the age range 30-39 years, reached a maximum of 117.2/100,000 in the age range 70-79 years and declined in the elderly. The incidence of PD was comparable with that found in developed countries, except for a slightly higher (not significant) incidence rate in the urban compared with the rural population in Estonia.
Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
Key Words
Parkinson's disease * Epidemiology * Incidence * Estonia
Introduction
Epidemiological studies show that Parkinson's disease (PD) is common among elderly people. Incidence is the most accurate estimate to evaluate the risk of PD in different populations and races, as it is relatively unaffected by factors influencing disease survival. However, incidence has been studied less often than prevalence [1-41. In community-based studies, annual incidence rates have been found to vary from 4.5 to 21 per 100,000 population [5-15]. The observed differences in defined populations suggest the possible role of environmental and genetic factors but also methodological variability of research designs and differences in the diagnostic criteria used for case ascertainment.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence rate of PD during the period 1990-1998 in Tartu county, South Estonia, among men and women residing in the urban and rural areas. The results of the study were compared with investigations carried out in other populations. Patients and Methods Estonia is the northernmost Baltic country and has a population of 1.5 million. Estonia has a long tradition of universally available medical services; there is 1 physician for each 300 inhabitants. Patients are registered at a family doctor and have access to medical care. Traditionally, patients with chronic neurologic diseases are followed up and treated by neurologists. The Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Tartu University is the neurologic center for the whole of South Estonia.
The present epidemiological study was carried out in the...