Life expectancy of parkinsonism patients in the general population. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dommershuijsen, Lisanne J.; Heshmatollah, Alis; Darweesh, Sirwan K.L.; Koudstaal, Peter J.; Ikram, M. Arfan; Ikram, M. Kamran
• Is Part Of: Parkinsonism & related disorders. Volume 77(2020)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Life expectancy -- Parkinson's disease -- Parkinsonism -- Survival -- Prognosis -- Burden; Parkinson's disease -- Periodicals; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; Movement Disorders -- Periodicals; Nerve Degeneration -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Parkinson Disease -- Periodicals; Tremor -- Periodicals; Parkinson, Maladie de -- Périodiques; Parkinson's disease; 616.833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.06.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8020

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Detailed data on the life expectancy of patients with parkinsonism from the general population are largely lacking. This study aimed to determine the absolute life expectancy of patients newly-diagnosed with parkinsonism. Methods: This study was part of the Rotterdam Study, an ongoing, population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. We included 12, 789 participants of 50 years and older, free of parkinsonism. Patients diagnosed with parkinsonism were matched to controls on sex, birth year, dementia status, cancer status, and coronary heart disease status. We used Gompertz regression and lifetables to estimate the remaining life expectancy per year of age. Results: The mean age of our study population was 65.0 (SD 9.7) years and 57.6% were women. During an average follow-up of 12 years, 297 participants were diagnosed with parkinsonism. The mean age at parkinsonism diagnosis was 78.6 (SD 8.1) years. Once diagnosed with parkinsonism, the life expectancy was lower than matched controls across a wide age range. At 65 years, the life expectancy of patients with parkinsonism was reduced with 6.7 [95% CI: 2.4;10.7] years compared to controls. At 85, the difference in life expectancy was 1.2 [95% CI: -2.2;4.5] years compared to controls. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with parkinsonism have a reduced life expectancy compared to their peers in the general population. The absolute life expectancy is mainly reduced if parkinsonism is diagnosed before the age of 70. Highlights: Absolute life expectancy estimates of parkinsonism are easy to translate to patients. Patients with parkinsonism have a reduced life expectancy compared to matched controls. The most prominent decrease in life expectancy is observed if parkinsonism is diagnosed before the age of 70. The number of years lived with parkinsonism in the general population is relatively low.