Objective: To describe the pattern of presentation of Parkinson disease in patients attending medical out-patient clinic in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Background: Parkinson Disease is a chronic, progressive, neurodegerative disorder characterized by pathological intraneuronal α-synuclein-positive Lewy bodies and neuronal cell loss. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease yet little is known about the pattern and presentation of Parkinson’s disease Patients in South east Nigeria.

Method: This study was cross sectional and descriptive in nature. It was conducted in the medical outpatient clinic of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu.

Results: A total of 100 cases (67% males and 33% females were reviewed. The mean age was 63.2(10.7, range 38 – 90) years similar in males (64.3(10.39) years and females 60.7(10.38) years. P=0.12. The mean age of onset was 39.5(10.8, range 31-85) years; also, similar in both sexes. Eight (8%) reported a positive family history of movement disorders. Common medical comorbidities documented were hypertension 44%, diabetes 6%, back pain 3% and heart disease 3%. The most frequent initial symptom at onset was tremor (75%) followed by stiffness/heaviness (15%) and gait disturbance 10(10%). At the time of review, 29% had mild bilateral disease, 33% had mild to moderate bilateral disease and 21% presented with severe disease. Performance on activities of daily averaged 50% with a median of 60% and a range of 0-90%.

Conclusion: Most patients with Parkinson’s disease present to tertiary hospital with bilateral disease. Most cases are likely to be tremor dominant type and have moderately reduced activities at home.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pattern-and-presentation-of-parkinson-disease-in-two-teaching-hospitals-in-enugu-south-east-nigeria/