[Demographic and prevalence study of parkinsonism in the region of Murcia]

To quantify parkinsonian patients in the Region of Murcia (RM), their health areas and zones, and find their prevalences and percentages.

All RM patients registered in Primary Care of the Murcian Health Service with the CIAP-2 code N87 were included. We calculated number, prevalence and percentages by age and sex groups, means and age ranges and years of evolution. The study was carried out at the age of diagnosis and at the age of data collection, analyzing their differences.

We obtained 3050 parkinsonian patients (1476 men and 1574 women) with respective prevalences of 206.09 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (206.09/10⁵), 199.06/10⁵ and 213.15/10⁵, not significant differences by sex or in number of patients (p=0.79) or in prevalence (P=.52). By age group, prevalences were higher in men (P<.05) between 50 and 99years of age (not between 90 and 94 and ≥100years). Of the 9 Health Areas, the highest prevalences were in areas IVNorthwest, with 322.31/10⁵, and VAltiplano, with 304.30/10⁵, and the lowest prevalence, of 171.13/10⁵, was observed in Area VIIMurcia East (P<.05). Of the 85 Health Zones, the one with the highest prevalence was Lorca-La Paca, with 510.51/10⁵, and the one with the lowest Murcia-Zarandona, with 78.48/10⁵ (P<.05).

First demographic and detailed prevalence study of parkinsonism in the RM. The prevalence in RM was 206.09/10⁵. By health areas, the highest prevalences were in the Northwest and Altiplano and by health areas a prevalence of 510.51/10⁵ stood out. This work aims to be useful to facilitate resource planning, with consequent better health care.