Prevalence of essential tremor: a door-to-door survey in Sile, Istanbul, Turkey

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2009 Feb;15(2):101-4. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2008.03.009. Epub 2008 May 13.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of essential tremor (ET) in a Turkish population living in Sile, a rural town located on Black Sea coast of Istanbul. This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional field study. People aged 18 years and over were selected for the study. Tremor surveillance questionnaire was applied by door-to-door visits. Subsequently, all subjects who answered the questionnaire had a standard tremor examination. Diagnosis was made based on Washington Heights-Inwood Genetic Study of Essential Tremor (WHIGET) diagnosis and clinical evaluation scale. A total of 2227 people was screened. The prevalence of ET was found to be 3.09% (95% Cl=2.42-3.91%) in Turkish population aged over 18 years. The prevalence of ET increased by age in both genders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Essential Tremor / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Rural Population*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Turkey / epidemiology
  • Young Adult