Abstract
Epidemiological aspects of Parkinson's disease (PD), co-occurring diseases and medical healthcare utilization of PD patients are still largely elusive. Based on claims data of 3.7 million statutory insurance members in Germany in 2015 the prevalence and incidence of PD was determined. PD cases had at least one main hospital discharge diagnosis of PD, or one physician diagnosis confirmed by a subsequent or independent diagnosis or by PD medication in 2015. Prevalence of (co-)occurring diseases, mortality, and healthcare measures in PD cases and matched controls were compared. In 2015, 21,714 prevalent PD cases (standardized prevalence: 511.4/100,000 persons) and 3,541 incident PD cases (standardized incidence: 84.1/100,000 persons) were identified. Prevalence of several (co-)occurring diseases/complications, e.g., dementia (PD/controls: 39/13%), depression (45/22%), bladder dysfunction (46/22%), and diabetes (35/31%), as well as mortality (10.7/5.8%) differed between PD cases and controls. The annual healthcare utilization was increased in PD cases compared to controls, e.g., regarding mean ± SD physician contacts (15.2 ± 7.6/12.2 ± 7.3), hospitalizations (1.3 ± 1.8/0.7 ± 1.4), drug prescriptions (overall: 37.7 ± 24.2/21.7 ± 19.6; anti-PD medication: 7.4 ± 7.4/0.1 ± 0.7), assistive/therapeutic devices (47/30%), and therapeutic remedies (57/16%). The standardized prevalence and incidence of PD in Germany as well as mortality in PD may be substantially higher than reported previously. While frequently diagnosed with co-occurring diseases/complications, such as dementia, depression, bladder dysfunction and diabetes, the degree of healthcare utilization shows large variability between PD patients. These findings encourage a rethinking of the epidemiology and healthcare utilization in PD, at least in Germany. Longitudinal studies of insurance claims data should further investigate the individual and epidemiological progression and healthcare demands in PD.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease often leading to disability, care dependency, reduced quality of life and premature death [1]
The prevalence and incidence of PD stratified by age and sex are shown in Figures 2A,B and the Supplementary Tables 1, FIGURE 1 | Flow-chart of PD case identification criteria
Males showed a higher prevalence of PD than females at all ages
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease often leading to disability, care dependency, reduced quality of life and premature death [1]. Despite its relevance there is paucity of recent and realworld estimates of the epidemiology of PD, medical treatment practice and other aspects of healthcare utilization and support of PD patients in Germany In this context, insurance claims could serve as data basis for gaining insight into the recent epidemiological status of PD including associated diseases and complications as well as the real-world utilization of PD treatments and healthcare services. Insurance claims could serve as data basis for gaining insight into the recent epidemiological status of PD including associated diseases and complications as well as the real-world utilization of PD treatments and healthcare services Far, such estimates are often difficult to compare between studies and/or nations as data sources, i.e., primary and secondary data, and diagnostic and inclusion criteria differ [8, 9] and may change over time [10]. Both of these aspects should be investigated within one large, recent and national dataset while applying previously used PD case identification criteria, and while investigating PD as a heterogeneous disease with frequently co-occurring/co-morbid diseases/complications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
