Prevalence of movement disorders in men and women aged 50-89 years (Bruneck Study cohort): a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
There is emerging awareness that movement disorders rank among the most common neurological diseases. However, the overall burden of these disorders in the general community is not well defined. We sought to assess the prevalence of all common categories of movement disorders in a population, accounting for sex differences and age trends.


METHODS
As part of an ongoing prospective population-based study of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke risk (the Bruneck Study), a total of 706 men and women aged 50-89 years underwent a thorough neurological assessment. The diagnosis of movement disorders and ratings for disease severity were based on standard criteria and scales. Prevalences were estimated from logistic regression models (regression-smoothed rates) and standardised to the age and sex structure of the general community.


RESULTS
The prevalence of all common categories of movement disorders was 28.0% (95% CI 25.9-30.1). Proportions in men (27.6% [95% CI 24.5-30.7]) and women (28.3% [25.5-31.2]) were closely similar and sharply increased with age (from 18.5% [15.0-22.0] in 50-59-year olds to 51.3% [44.9-57.7] in 80-89-year olds). Almost half of all patients (90/214) had moderate-to-severe disease expression, but only 7.0% (15/214) received standard drug treatment. Prevalence of tremor was 14.5%, followed by restless legs syndrome (10.8%), parkinsonism (7%), primary dystonia and secondary dystonia (1.8%), and chorea and tics (<1% each). A fifth of all movement disorders were diagnosed to be probably drug-induced.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of and substantial under-recognition and under-treatment of movement disorders in the general community.
Wenning
Gregor K
GK
Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Kiechl
Stefan
S
Seppi
Klaus
K
Müller
Joerg
J
Högl
Birgit
B
Saletu
Michael
M
Rungger
Gregor
G
Gasperi
Arno
A
Willeit
Johann
J
Poewe
Werner
W
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D011153:Population; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors