Original

Aetiological analysis of 425 patients referred to an outpatient neurology service due to tremor or Parkinsonism

A. Pérez-Sempere, V. Medrano, J.L. Pardo-Franco, J.M. Callejo-Domínguez, E. Delsors Mérida-Nicolich, S. Mola [REV NEUROL 2010;51:81-84] PMID: 20602313 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.5102.2010165

OPEN ACCESS

Volumen 51 | Number 02 | Nº of views of the article 6.004 | Nº of PDF downloads 991 | Article publication date 16/07/2010

Download PDF Castellano Citation Search in PubMed

Share in:

Go to another issue

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION Movement disorders are a common reason for visits to outpatient neurology departments. This study has two objectives. The first is to analyse the diagnoses of patients referred to the neurology service due to tremor or Parkinsonism. The second aim is to analyse whether such patients are referred from primary care correctly or incorrectly.

PATIENTS AND METHODS The study examines patients referred from primary care to the neurology service in a medical specialty centre because of tremor or Parkinsonism. The final diagnoses established by the neurologist were analysed and patient referral was also analysed using a set of previously agreed criteria.

RESULTS The sample consisted of 425 consecutive patients who were referred from primary care due to tremor (n = 294) or Parkinsonism (n = 131). The most common diagnoses were Parkinson’s disease (n = 211; 50%), essential tremor (n = 157; 37%) and pharmacological Parkinsonism (n = 23; 5%). Referral was considered to be incorrect in 39 patients and correct in 388 cases (91%). The causes of incorrect referrals were: pharmacological Parkinsonism (n = 23), anxiety that was not treated in primary care (n = 12) and hypothyroidism that went undiagnosed in primary care (n = 4).

CONCLUSIONS Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and pharmacological Parkinsonism are the most frequent diagnoses in patients who are referred from primary care because of tremor and Parkinsonism. Referral to a neurology service is correct in most cases, but there is still room for improvement. KeywordsAetiology Diagnosis Essential tremor Parkinsonism Primary care Tremor CategoriesNeurodegeneración Trastornos del movimiento

FULL TEXT (solo disponible en lengua castellana / Only available in Spanish)

Acceso directo al último número

Último Podcast

Original

Aetiological analysis of 425 patients referred to an outpatient neurology service due to tremor or Parkinsonism