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What predicts mortality in Parkinson disease?: a prospective population-based long-term study
Forsaa EB, Larsen JP, Wentzel-Larsen T, Alves G.. Neurology, 2010-10-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To identify independent risk factors of mortality in a community-based Parkinson disease (PD) cohort during prospective long-term follow-up. Methods A community-based prevalent sample of 230 patients with PD from southwestern Norway was followed prospectively with repetitive assessments of motor and nonmotor symptoms from 1993 to 2005. Information on vital status until October 20, 2009, was obtained from the National Population Register in Norway. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to identify independent predictors of mortality during follow-up. Chronological age, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score, levodopa equivalent dose, probable REM sleep behavior disorder, psychotic symptoms, dementia, and use of antipsychotics were included as time-dependent variables, and age at onset (AAO) and sex as time-independent variables. Results Of 230 patients, 211 (92%) died during the study period. Median survival time from motor onset was 15.8 years (range 2.2-36.6). Independent predictors of mortality during follow-up were AAO (hazard ratio [HR] 1.40 for 10-years increase, p = 0.029), chronological age (HR 1.51 for 10-years increase, p = 0.043), male sex (HR 1.63, p = 0.001), UPDRS motor score (HR 1.18 for 10-point increase, p Conclusions This population-based long-term study demonstrates that in addition to AAO, chronological age, motor severity, and dementia, psychotic symptoms independently predict increased mortality in PD. In contrast, no significant impact of antipsychotic or antiparkinsonian drugs on survival was observed in our PD cohort. Early prevention of motor progression and development of psychosis and dementia may be the most promising strategies to increase life expectancy in PD.
Key findings
- Results Of 230 patients, 211 (92%) died during the study period.
- In contrast, no significant impact of antipsychotic or antiparkinsonian drugs on survival was observed in our PD cohort.
Why it matters
In this Parkinson disease cohort, dementia was among the factors included as time-dependent variables, but the study's main focus was on identifying predictors of mortality. It found no significant impact of antipsychotic or antiparkinsonian drugs on survival.
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Study details
- Participants230
- Effect sizeHR 1.51; HR 1.63; HR 1.18
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 230 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 302 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.8 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 50 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Guido Werner Alves: h-index 55 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Haukeland University Hospital: institution h-index 500 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20921512) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Forsaa, E. B., Larsen, J. P., Wentzel-Larsen, T., & Alves, G. (2010). What predicts mortality in Parkinson disease?: a prospective population-based long-term study. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f61311
Vancouver
Forsaa EB, Larsen JP, Wentzel-Larsen T, Alves G. What predicts mortality in Parkinson disease?: a prospective population-based long-term study. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f61311. PMID: 20921512.
BibTeX
@article{forsaa2010-20921512,
author = {Forsaa, E. B. and Larsen, J. P. and Wentzel-Larsen, T. and Alves, G.},
title = {{What predicts mortality in Parkinson disease?: a prospective population-based long-term study}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f61311},
pmid = {20921512},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f61311}
}
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