Status of Korean Patients with Parkinson’s Disease before Diagnosis

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 18(6); 2000 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2000;18(6): 687-693.

한국 파킨슨병 환자의 진단 전 상황

최선아, 김진호*·이명식

연세대학교 의과대학 영동세브란스병원 신경과,조선대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실*

Status of Korean Patients with Parkinson’s Disease before Diagnosis

Sun-Ah Choi, M.D., Jin Ho Kim, M.D.*, Myung Sik Lee, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Youngdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Chosun University College of Medicine*

Abstract

Background : Many Korean primary care physicians seem to be unfamiliar with symptoms and signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We therefore investigated the status of Korean patients with PD before receiving a correct diagnosis of PD. Methods : Using a questionnaire, we interviewed 102 patients with PD and their main care givers. The question-naire included age at onset, first visiting medical facilities, time interval between the first visit and the correct diagnosis, and medical expenses. We also studied patients’ and their main care givers’ period of school education and monthly income. Results : 102 (51 men, 51 women) patients with PD were included. Their mean age at the inquiry was 64.1 years old. For their first medical facilities, oriental medicine was chosen in 47 patients (46.1%), university hospitals in26 (25.5%), general hospitals in 14 (13.7%), private clinics in 11 (10.8%), and paramedical facilities in 4 (3.9%). The clinical diagnoses were not told in 48 (47.1%), stroke in 27 (26.5%), PD in 17 (16.7%), disc herniation in 4 (3.9%), arthritis in 4 (3.9%), and others in 2 (2%). It took the mean of 23.4 months from the first visit to the diagnosis of PD. PD patients with main care-givers making less money visited more numbers of medical facilities until they were diag-nosed correctly. There was a negative correlation between the period of school education and medical expenses. Conclusions : To prevent unnecessary medical expenses and physical damage of Korean patients with PD, more educa-tion about PD for primary care physicians and medical students must be considered.J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(6):687~693, 2000Key Words : Korea, Status, Parkinson’s disease, Diagnosis