[Descriptive analysis of the activity in a movement disorder unit in a tertiary hospital in Catalonia]

Movement disorders are an important part of the activity of a Neurology service, but there are few studies examining their health care demand.

To analyze the first visits of the Movement Disorders Unit of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona and to compare the results with those of previous studies.

Prospective study of the first neurological assessments carried out during 2010. Demographic variables of patients were collected and diagnoses were reviewed 12 months later.

423 first visits were done (application rate of 1.41 per 1000 inhabitants-year): 54% females, median age 68.8 ± 14.2 years-old. 74.3% of referrals came from the family doctor. The most frequent reasons for consultation were tremor (40%) and parkinsonism-motor clumsiness (26%). The most prevalent diagnoses were Parkinson's disease (36%) and essential tremor (19%). After the first assessment, 84% of patients continued controls in the Unit. One year later, in the 8% of cases there was a change in the initial diagnosis. Taking into account the incidence of each disorder, the number of patients seen was fewer compared to the estimated (19.5 times lower), especially marked in cases of restless legs syndrome, essential tremor and Tourette syndrome.

In our Unit the most frequent reason for consultation is tremor and the most prevalent diagnosis is Parkinson's disease. The number of patients treated is clearly lower than the estimated according to the incidence of the diseases in the population.