Headlines - Parkinson's Disease in France

Neurological diseases are now the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide.Among them, Parkinson’s disease is the one with the largest increase in cases (more than doubling) between 1990 and 2015. This is partly due to the aging population, but not solely so, as the age-standardized prevalence rate has risen by 15%. A weekly epidemiological bulletin was dedicated to this condition.An estimate of the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in France was calculated using data on reimbursements for anti-Parkinson’s medications between 2010 and 2015. At the end of 2015, 166,712 people were being treated for Parkinson’s disease in France, representing a prevalence rate of 2.50 per 1,000 people. In 2015, 25,842 people were newly diagnosed, representing an incidence rate of 0.39 patients per 1,000 person-years, of whom 17% were under 65 years of age. Prevalence and incidence increased gradually up to the age of 80. More than half of the patients were over 75 years of age. Men were affected approximately 1.5 times more often than women. Regional prevalence rates ranged from 1.52 to 2.80 per 1,000 people. In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 8,669 cases were identified, representing a rate of 2.69 per 1,000. The region has the third-highest prevalence after Hauts-de-France and PACA. In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, departmental rates range from 2.33 (Nièvre) to 2.91 (Haute-Saône). In 2014, 1.8% of death certificates listed Parkinson’s disease. The mortality rate was twice as high as that of the general population, after adjusting for sex and age. After age 65, the mortality rate increased rapidly with age. Falls and dementia were more frequently identified than in the general population as the underlying cause of death, but cancers were less common (lower smoking rates).Inhalation pneumonia was cited in 15% of cases compared to 4% in the general population. The incidence rate of Parkinson’s disease was 1.09 times higher among MSA members and 1.13 times higher among farmers. In the general population, incidence increases with the proportion of agricultural land, particularly in viticulture (10% higher). By 2030, approximately 260,000 people are expected to be treated for Parkinson’s disease in France, a 56% increase compared to 2015, with one in 120 people over the age of 45 affected. These prevalence rates are likely underestimated because some patients remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated.