Prevalence of essential tremor: A door-to-door survey in Bidasoa, Spain

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of essential tremor (ET) in two Spanis h populations (Irun and Hondarribia, Bidasoa region) and to compare the res ults with those of similar surveys. Methods: The survey included 2,000 part icipants aged 65 years or older in a door-to-door, two-phase design. ET was defined as postural or kinetic tremor of the head or limbs. Results: ET pr evalence after age adjustment was 4.8% (95% confidence interval, 3.6-6.4). Prevalence increased significantly with age and there were no sex differenc es. Conclusions: The age-adjusted prevalence rate of ET in people 65 years old and older in Bidasoa, Spain, is close to those described in other studi es using a similar design and suggest no geographical variation. ET prevale nce increases with age and has a similar distribution in males and females. Copyright (C) 2001 S.Karger AG, Basel.