June 28, 2026Open Access
A comprehensive assessment of lifecourse and mortality of Parkinson’s disease in the German National Cohort
Key Points
- This research aims to examine the prevalence and mortality associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in a large cohort.
- Utilized data from the German National Cohort (NAKO) involving 205,000 participants.
- Compared PD classifications using self-reports, claims data, and a medication-based algorithm.
- Analyzed PD incidence, non-motor symptoms, and mortality over a median follow-up of 4.8 years.
- Algorithm-based PD prevalence was 0.13%, but claims data showed a prevalence 2.5-fold higher.
- Self-reported PD incidence was 0.13%; cases had a 4-fold higher mortality risk.
- PD cases exhibited worse emotional, motoric, and olfactory functions, along with higher rates of diabetes, obesity, depression, and anxiety.
Abstract
Abstract A strong increase in the prevalence and deaths of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been reported over the last three decades. Ageing societies, genetic and environmental factors and access to health care contribute to these increases. Using data of the German National Cohort (NAKO) PD classifications based on self-report, claims data and a brief medication based algorithm to increase validity in the absence of neurologic examinations, were compared and the PD incidence, selected non-motor symptoms, functions and vital status were analysed. The algorithm based PD prevalence among 205.000 participants was 0.13% but it was 2.5-fold higher in claims data. Self-reported PD incidence was 0.13% over a median of 4.8 years follow-up, but cases had a 4-fold higher mortality, worse emotional, motoric and olfactory functions and higher prevalences of diabetes, obesity, depression and anxiety. The algorithm based PD prevalence and the mortality risk was similar to considerable older population studies from Europe.