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Synucleinopathies Linked with Increased Mortality
JAMA Neurol; ePub 2017 May 15; Savica, et al
Individuals with multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson disease dementia have increased mortality compared with the general population, according to a recent study. This population-based study used the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records–linkage system to identify all residents in Olmsted County, MN, who received a diagnosis of parkinsonism from 1991 through 2010. Researchers found:
- Of the 461 patients with synucleinopathies, 279 (60.5%) were men, and of the 452 referent participants, 272 (60.2%) were men.
- From 1991 through 2010, the total number of individuals received a diagnosis of a synucleinopathy (309 [67%] of Parkinson disease, 81 [17.6%] of dementia with Lewy bodies, 55 [11.9%] of Parkinson disease dementia, and 16 [3.5%] of multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism).
- Patients with multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism had the highest risk of death compared with referent participants.
- Neurodegenerative disease was the most frequent cause of death listed on the death certificate for patients, and cardiovascular disease was the most frequent cause of death among referent participants.
Savica R, Grossardt BR, Bower JH, et al. Survival and causes of death among people with clinically diagnosed synucleinopathies with parkinsonism. A population-based study. [Published online ahead of print May 15, 2017]. JAMA Neurol. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.0603.