Epidemiological Study of Parkinson’s disease in the Population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by motor impairment affecting millions of people globally. Significantly, in Pakistan approximately 450,000 PD cases have been reported previously. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of PD in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a province of Pakistan. Interviews were conducted with PD patients, admitted to the Department of Neurology Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Already prepared questionnaires were used to record the clinical and demographic data on the basis of age, gender, comorbidities, and family history. Clinically, it was identified that Parkinson’s patients showed different features such as tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, difficulty walking, dementia, frequent falls, weakness, difficulty speaking, sleeplessness, apathy, and dyskinesia. According to the statistical analysis, PD primarily affected those between the ages of 55 and 64 and it was more common in men than women. The significance of this study was to explain the epidemiological and clinical features of PD in the KP province of Pakistan. The current study will support accurate diagnosis and treatment as well as disease management.