Today, I would like to talk to you about a new study, which says that “300.000 people have Parkinson´s in Spain”.
In addition, this study indicates that, each year, a new case is diagnosed per 10,000 inhabitants, according to a study, in which the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) participates and in which almost a hundred Studies have been reviewed, to analyse the incidence of the disease in our country.
Also, from the different articles studied, the scientists have made an estimate of the cost that this pathology can come to ---+suppose to each patient. So, they have concluded that if some advanced therapies, such as deep brain stimulation, duodopa or apomorphine pump, are used, this can amount to between 17,000 and 50,000 euros, per patient, a year.
However, these people are usually a minority within the group, since only a small number of patients meet the appropriate requirements to qualify for these treatments.
"There are very few studies on costs and they are rather estimates, that take into account direct and indirect costs. There are European estimates that speak of a cost of around € 8,000 a year, per patient; but there are no good studies in Spain", the neurologist, Rocío García-Ramos, has explained, in the Movement Disorders Unit, at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid.
Rocío García-Ramos
Also, the study, published in the journal Neurology, emphasises that the highest incidence of the disease is in people between 70 and 79 years. In the case of women, the highest prevalence occurs up to 85 years. In addition, the mortality, from this disease, is double that of people who do not suffer, from the disease, and their quality of life become deteriorated acutely, as the disease progresses.
The main symptoms are tremors in hands, arms, legs, jaw and face, along with stiffness in the arms, legs and trunk. In addition, patients move slowly and present problems of balance and coordination.
Finally, the study also includes the results of forty questionnaires, sent to neurologists, from different Spanish hospitals, specialised in the disease. Although, in all the autonomous communities, there is at least one unit specialised in Parkinson's, the majority are formed exclusively by neurologists. Thus, apart from Hospital Clínic (Barcelona) and Virgen del Rocío (Seville), these teams do not include speech therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists either psychiatrists.
Well, I hope that scientists follow researching about this sad disease.
Until my next post, kind regards,
Luis.
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