Incidence, prevalence and mortality of Parkinson’s disease in Greece

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition with significant social burden, expected to rise in the future. Epidemiological research is essential to inform data-driven health policies and unravel new insights into its pathogenesis and potential prevention. We used a drug prescription database with extensive population coverage to calculate, nationwide and regional, incidence and prevalence rates of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, we calculated mortality rates, crude case fatality risk and mortality rate ratios relative to the general population. The crude incidence, prevalence and mortality rates were estimated at 48 cases per 100,000 person-years [95% CI 47–50], 400 cases per 100,000 persons [95% CI 396–404] and 71 deaths per 100,000 person-years [95% CI 69–72] respectively. A male predominance was observed across all rates within age-groups. The mortality rate ratios for Parkinson disease patients aged 70–79 and > 80 compared to the general population were estimated at 6.6 [95% CI 6.3–6.9] and 2.0 [95% CI 1.9–2.0] respectively. Incidence and prevalence varied significantly by region with the lowest incidence recorded in Crete at 35 cases per 100,000 person-years [95% CI 30–39] and the highest in Thessaly at 69 cases per 100,000 person-years [95% CI 63–76]. Our results provide robust epidemiological evidence to guide the strategic allocation of health system and social resources for Parkinson’s disease in Greece. Additionally, they set the stage for further analytical epidemiological studies to elucidate factors contributing to geographical variations of the disease burden.