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High prevalence of primary focal dystonia in the Faroe Islands
Author(s) -
Joensen P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.12438
Subject(s) - cervical dystonia , focal dystonia , blepharospasm , dystonia , medicine , torticollis , population , pediatrics , botulinum toxin , movement disorders , surgery , psychiatry , disease , environmental health
Objective There are no previous studies undertaken about primary focal dystonia in the Faroe Islands. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of these diseases in the Faroese population. Methods Patients were ascertained and registered prospectively from January 1, 1994, through 2013 when they were examined at the Neurological Clinic of the Faroese National Hospital or at a private neurological practice, which together constitutes all the available neurological services in the Faroe Islands. Result On January 1, 2014, there were 29 individuals within the entire Faroese population of 48,100 with primary focal dystonia: 23 with torticollis, four with writer's cramp, one with oromandibular dystonia, and one with laryngeal dystonia; no one had blepharospasm. The prevalence of primary focal dystonia was 602 per million (395–873) (95% confidence limit). The most common subtype was cervical dystonia with a prevalence of 478 (332–728) per million. Conclusion The study yielded that (i) the prevalence of primary focal dystonia of 602 (395–873) per million is far higher in the Faroe Islands than that revealed in most other regions studied and (ii) the prevalence of the cervical dystonia subtype is far more common than elsewhere with the highest prevalence of 478 (332–728), which is higher than described in any previously published survey. As the study is serviced‐based, the result may underestimate actual occurrence; thus, prevalence rates may be even higher.