The prevalence of PD in a nutritionally deficient rural population in China

Objectives – In most reports, the prevalence of PD in mainland China is lower than in western populations. To estimate PD prevalence in China, we performed a cross‐sectional study in a rural population in Linxian County, China. Primary outcomes – Clinical diagnosis of PD. Results – Among the 16,488 participants examined, the overall age‐ and gender‐adjusted prevalence rate of PD was 522/100,000 (95% CI: 477–567) assuming no cases of PD would be found among those younger than 50 years of age. The gender‐adjusted prevalence rates were 103 (95% CI: 83–123), 621 (95% CI: 572–670), 902 (95% CI: 843–961), and 1744 (95% CI: 1662–1826) per 100,000 in age groups 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80 and above, respectively. Conclusions – The estimated prevalence of PD in Linxian, China is higher than most of those reported from other areas in China, and similar to those reported from non‐Asian populations.