The prevalence of Parkinson's disease in an Arab population, Wadi Ara, Israel.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of Parkinson's disease varies among ethnic and geographic groups around the world, being very low in China and high in Argentina. While the main etiology of the disease has yet to be determined, environmental, occupational and genetic factors seem to play important roles.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of PD in an Arab Muslim population in Israel, using the drug tracer approach.


METHODS
We studied a Muslim Arab population living in a well-defined geographic area in Israel, with the majority located in two towns and two large villages. Of the approximately 115,000 residents, about 38% are under the age of 15 and 7.75% are older than 65. Drug tracer methodology was applied in this study. All those who were on anti-PD medication were identified and examined by a neurologist to confirm the diagnosis.


RESULTS
The overall crude prevalence of PD in this population was low, 43.24/100,000, while the prevalence in the age group above 65 years was 477.32/100,000. Below this age, the prevalence was very low, 12.29/100,000. PD prevalence was higher in males than in females (ratio 1.17); 63% of male patients smoked cigarettes. The prevalence was found to be twice as high among the residents of rural areas, where most inhabitants work in agriculture.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PD among the Arab population in Israel is considered low and comparable to that reported in other Arab countries.
Masalha
Rafik
R
Department of Neurology, Soroka University Medical Center, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. masalhar@bgu.ac.il
Kordysh
Ella
E
Alpert
Gershon
G
Hallak
Maher
M
Morad
Mohammad
M
Mahajnah
Muhammad
M
Farkas
Peter
P
Herishanu
Yuval
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult