Epidemiology and out-patient care in Parkinson's disease--results from a pilot-study in northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein).

An attempt was made to estimate prevalence on Parkinsonism using consultation rates in physicians' practices in a two-step, one-phasic pilot study in a rural-urban area of Northern Germany. Though participation of physicians was low, reported rates for Parkinsonian patients (183/100,000) were in the range yielded in comparable areas, but by different methodology. Only 64% of a large subsample of patients used L-Dopa preparations for therapy. Confirming previous results the objective records of doctors and the subjective notices of patients regarding disease state showed considerable differences in several important items.