Objective: identify factors that could be associated with Parkinson’s disease in Congo

Background: In  DRCongo, few studies have been published on Parkinson’s disease to date.

At the Initiative Plus Hospital Center, abnormal movements are among the most frequent reasons for consultation, and nearly half of these patients have had a stay in the Kwilu and Kwango provinces, which are crossed by the Kasai River, polluted by heavy metals.

Patients who consult for Parkinson’s disease very often present with other comorbidities .

This is why we wanted to investigate the risk factors associated with Parkinson’s disease in DRCongo.

Method: We conducted a longitudinal study from January 2022 to October 2025. Using a questionnaire, we collected information on our patients’ ethnicity, place of residence, stays of at least one month, other risk factors, and clinical presentation.

All patients who consulted for parkinsonian syndrome were included, and we excluded from our study patients with parkinsonian syndrome induced by neuroleptic use.

Results: A total of 32 patients were included in our study, including 30 males, the minimum age  is 45 years.

Thirty percent of the sample are originally  from central Kongo region . A family history of Parkinson’s disease was found in 3 patients, and one family had 4 cases of Parkinson’s.

Among our Parkinson’s patients, a third had stayed in the regions crossed by the kasai river.

Other regions  included : Kongo central , Equateur all crossed by the Congo River, and the city of Bukavu, which is also a mining town.

Other risk factors identified included dyslipidemia in 100% of cases, diabetes in approximately 37%, and hypertension in 21%.

The frequent reason for consultation is tremors (78.79%) followed by akinesia (18.18% ).

Non-motor symptoms are found in 70% of patients. These symptoms include orthostatic hypotension, constipation, restless dreams, and cardiac arrhythmias. 

MRIs were performed on all our patients ; 76% of patients had a normal MRI. The most common abnormalities were: cerebral atrophy in 9% of cases, ischemic stroke in 6% of cases, and the Mickey Mouse sign was found in one patient.

Conclusion: majority of patients originate from Kongo Central.  there may be pollution of Congolese rivers that could be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.Vascular factor is one  major risk o of Parkinson’s disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/risk-factors-associated-with-parkinsons-disease-in-the-drc-case-of-the-initiative-plus-hospital-center-kinshasa/