Parkinson's disease in Hawaiʻi: a study of prevalence and ethnicity

Abstract

This analysis described the population prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Hawai'i, by birth year, season, gender, age, and ethnicity for patients 50+ years old. Inclusion criteria were a history of Parkinson's drug-treatment following the PD diagnosis, and a claims history for other secondary diagnostic or treatment codes subsequent to the 332 diagnosis. Two-thousand thirty cases met the criteria. Without age adjustments, prevalence was 145/100,000. A birth-month distribution showed a significant seasonal trend (p=.04). The male to female ratio was 1.4 to 1, modal age of death was 81 years, and mortality was 2.6 (95% CI= 2.1 to 3.2) times greater than the non- Parkinson control sample. Of the 975 who self-reported ethnicity, 58% were Japanese. Compared to Japanese men, Japanese women were 17% less likely to develop PD (p < .001). Findings suggest that multiple sources of early-exposure late-onset conditions may precipitate PD, as well as lifestyle.