BACKGROUND

Few comprehensive epidemiological studies of the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been undertaken in Arab countries, and none has been carried out in Egypt. A community-based survey was conducted in the Assiut Governorate to estimate the prevalence and clinical profile of PD.

METHODS

A community-based study was carried out, with random sampling of 7 districts, involving 6,498 inhabitants. Out of this sample, 578 subjects dropped out, leaving 3,066 males (51.8%) and 2,854 females (48.2%). There were 3,660 urban residents (61.8%) and 2,260 (38.2%) from the rural community. Patients were evaluated using a screening questionnaire, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale for PD.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine subjects were found to have parkinsonism, giving a crude prevalence rate of 659/100,000 inhabitants. Of these subjects, 33 were diagnosed with PD (21 males), with a mean age of 66.9 ± 8.4 years, a crude prevalence rate of 557/100,000 and an age-specific prevalence rate (≥50 years old) of 2,748/100,000. There were more males than females (3,395 vs. 1,989/100,000), but the difference was not significant. The highest age-specific prevalence rate was recorded among subjects 70-79 years old (7,263/100,000). There was a significantly higher prevalence among rural than urban inhabitants (973 vs. 301/100,000) and among illiterate than literate persons (1,103 vs. 280/100,000). The clinical profile of our patients was similar to that of other populations but was characterized by a high prevalence of mood/cognition dysfunction and gastrointestinal symptoms; there were few reported perceptual problems.

CONCLUSION

The overall prevalence of PD was high, especially in older adults.