Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of environmental risk factors, comorbidities and family history in a population with Pakinson disease in Coquimbo region, Chile.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. The etiology is not yet fully known, with environmental and genetic risk factors. In the province where the study was carried out, there is apparently a higher prevalence (200/100000)  than in other regions of the country, being an agricultural and mining region.

Method: Retrospective observational study of patients admitted with a diagnosis of PD in movement disorders outpatient clinic in a public hospital. There are approximately 500 patients with PD under control in the hospital, a sample of 100 consecutive patients was established randomly. Demographic data, comorbidities with emphasis on environmental factors and family history of neurodegenerative disease were collected from the clinical records. All data were obtained in 65 patients.

Results: The mean age was 62 years and twenty-three patients (38%) were women. The average onset of motor symptoms of the disease was 48 years and 55 % of the sample had started their symptoms before the age of 50. Thirty-nine percent of patients had a family history of PD. 60% of the patients (n=39) were exposed to neurotoxins, twenty-seven of them were exposed to pesticides, of which 2/3 were farmers, and twelve were mining workers with exposure to heavy metals. Well water consumption during their lifetime was present in forty percent, history of brain trauma in 40% and comorbidity with diabetes mellitus in 26%. Regarding protective factors, 40% of patients have a history of smoked tobacco and 44 % drunk coffee during their life.

Conclusion: The frequency of environmental risk factors and family history are high in our population, which could explain the possible high prevalence of PD in the region. Future epidemiological studies and case controls are necessary to determine the risk more precisely since this information is unknown in the Coquimbo region. There is a sample bias due to it being a specialized movement disorders consultation where patients are referred for advanced therapies.

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References: Kim DJ, Isidro-Pérez AL, Doering M, Llibre-Rodriguez JJ, Acosta I, Rodriguez Salgado AM, Pinilla-Monsalve GD, Tanner C, Llibre-Guerra JJ, Prina M. Prevalence and Incidence of Parkinson’s Disease in Latin America: A Meta-Analysis. Mov Disord. 2024 Jan;39(1):105-118. doi: 10.1002/mds.29682. Epub 2023 Dec 8. PMID: 38069493; PMCID: PMC10872644.
M. Contreras, P. Pizarro, U. Hernandez, C. Gomez, J. Gajardo. Prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in the region of Coquimbo, Chile [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-parkinsons-disease-in-the-region-of-coquimbo-chile/. Accessed November 27, 2024.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/risk-factors-in-a-population-with-high-prevalence-of-parkinsons-disease-in-chile/