Life table mortality analysis of parkinsonian signs in a community population of older people.
BACKGROUND
A community based mortality review of individuals with parkinsonism is evaluated by a comparative life table analysis.


RESULTS
Individuals with parkinsonism had an increased mortality over a nine year follow up. The presence of a gait disturbance is an additional mortality factor. However, the absence of gait disturbance is a far stronger factor for improved survival in parkinsonism than is the adverse factor of a gait disturbance being present. Bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity had no significant additional mortality effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Careful risk selection should lead to a favorable mortality result. Credits can be given to those without gait disturbances and extra debits assessed to those with gait disorders.
Iacovino
J R
JR
New York Life Insurance Company, New York, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis