Session Information
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2018
Session Title: Epidemiology
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Hall 3FG
Objective: To evaluate hemoglobin (Hb) levels changes preceding PD diagnosis and the association with PD risk.
Background: Alteration of iron levels in the brain has been observed and documented in a number of neurodegenerative disorders including PD. It is currently unknown about changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels, the largest source of peripheral iron in humans, before PD incidence and this relationship with PD risk
Methods: A population-based cohort study. Individuals with repeated annual Hb levels aged 40-79 years and free of PD at date of first Hb test were derived from a large healthcare organization (study-period 1.1.1999-31.12.2012). They were followed from 1st blood test during the study period until date of PD assessment (based on a drug-tracer approach), death or end of study. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate Hb levels trends preceding PD. Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by sex and age-group, with time-dependent covariate of anemia [Hb levels (g/dL) for men <13; for women <12.0] were used to compute adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) for PD risk.
Results: The cohort included 474,129 individuals, 47.4% men. During a mean follow up of 8.8 (±3.9) years, 2,427 individuals developed PD (3.3% at ages over 65 years). Hb levels declined along time among men across all age groups with a steeper decrease for those who developed PD vs. those who did not, especially at ages 60-64 years. Using the time-dependent Cox model, anemia was found to be a significant risk factor for PD only among men; age-pooled HR=1.19 (95%CI: 1.04-1.37), with the highest risk in ages 60-64 years [HR=1.41 (95%CI: 1.03-1.93)].
Conclusions: Anemia, representing a decline in HB levels might play a role in PD onset in men, as a marker or a risk factor, especially in middle age. Common pathophysiologic processes between Hb abnormalities and brain dysfunction are warranting a further investigation.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
V. Rozani, N. Giladi, B. El-Ad, T. Gurevich, J. Tsamir, B. Hemo, C. Peretz. Anemia in men and increased Parkinson’s disease risk: A population-based cohort study using big data [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2018; 33 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/anemia-in-men-and-increased-parkinsons-disease-risk-a-population-based-cohort-study-using-big-data/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2018 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/anemia-in-men-and-increased-parkinsons-disease-risk-a-population-based-cohort-study-using-big-data/