title: Prevalence of movement disorders in men and women aged 50-89 years (Bruneck Study cohort): a population-based study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Gregor K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wenning
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiechl
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seppi
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saletu
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rungger
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasperi
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willeit
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
mesh_terms: 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