Parkinson's disease risk in patients with ocular motor cranial neuropathy: a Korean population-based study

Parkinson's disease (PD) often presents with prodromal symptoms before motor manifestations. The relationship between ocular motor cranial neuropathy (OMCN) and subsequent PD risk remains unexplored. This study investigates whether OMCN is associated with increased risk of developing PD.

Using Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2010-2017), 19,859 patients with newly diagnosed OMCN and 99,295 age- and sex-matched controls were analyzed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for incident PD, with a 1-year lag period applied to minimize reverse causality.

After adjusting for confounding factors (age, sex, lifestyle, and comorbidities), OMCN patients demonstrated significantly higher risk of developing PD (HR: 1.550, 95% confidence interval: 1.278-1.880) over an average follow-up of 4.35 years. This association remained robust across all subgroup analyses regardless of age, sex, or the presence of metabolic comorbidities.

OMCN is associated with increased subsequent PD risk, suggesting it may serve as an early indicator of neurodegeneration. These findings highlight the importance of neurological monitoring in OMCN patients and may contribute to earlier PD detection and intervention strategies.