PREVALENCE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN NORTH KASHMIR (ADULTS)

Background: A population-based study aimed to provide information about the etiological profile, natural history and risk factors of various neurological disorders that will help to identify the effective intervention required to reduce the frequency of neurological disorders in the community.

Methods: A sample of population comprised 10,368 individuals out of total population of 67,717 in rural community of Kashmir valley in a two-phase programme. Phase I constituted screening of the population by door-to-door survey. Those screened positive for neurological disorders were examined by neurologist in phase II. The population was surveyed for neurological disorders including epilepsy, stroke, migraine, Parkinsons disease, cerebral palsy syndromes, dementia and peripheral nerve disorders.

Results: The crude prevalence rate for all neurological disorders was 8295 per 1,00,000 headache syndrome were the most prevalence disorders with prevalence rate of 5,883. The crude prevalence rate for epilepsy was 366 per 100000 followed by peripheral nerve disease (309 per 100000). The prevalence rates per 100000 for dementia, post-polio-sequelae, mental retardation, spinal cord disease and cerebral palsy were 241, 125, 96, 87 and 38, respectively. Among the stroke 559 per 100000, hemorrhagic strokes were more than ischemic strokes with hypertension as main risk factors.

Conclusion: This study proved an eye-opener for exploring the magnitude of various neurological disorders in the community needs large sample studies for further substantiation.