Parkinson disease – Prevalence, trends and regional patterns in Germany. An analysis based on routine data from the statutory health insurance

Abstract

Background: As part of the German Burden of Disease Study, population-based prevalences of important diseases are estimated. This allows regional patterns and temporal trends to be identified.

Methods: The prevalence of Parkinson disease in the population was estimated cross-sectionally for the years 2017 to 2022 at the level of the Spatial Planning Regions using routine data of persons insured in the statutory health insurance AOK, adjusted for age, sex and morbidity (administrative prevalence).

Results: In 2022, the prevalence of Parkinson disease in Germany was 0.35 % of the population. This represents approximately 295,000 people. The prevalence is 0.34 % in women and 0.36 % in men. The prevalence of Parkinson disease increases with age. It is 0.61 % from the age of 40 and 1.42 % from the age of 65. There is a slight downward trend over time. The age-standardised regional distribution shows no clear pattern.

Conclusions: Measured by administrative prevalence, the significance of Parkinson disease for population health remains largely stable with a slight downward trend.