Risk Factors of Parkinson’s Disease: A Case-Control Study in Moroccan Patients

Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains a significant health concern in Morocco. Multivariate analysis was not used in any study to evaluate the role of various factors that contributed to the onset of the disease.

This study investigates the role of family, environmental, and professional factors in PD development.

The present study is an age-matched case-control study with risk estimation based on odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). In total, 180 cases were matched with 360 controls.

The average age of participants was 68.3 ± 11.2 years. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that the family history of PD (ORa = 7.19, CI 95% 3.41 - 15.13), male sex (ORa = 1.92, CI 95% 1.16 - 3.16), spring water consumption (ORa = 3.31, CI 95% 2.05 - 5.34), drug use (ORa = 2.12, CI 95% 1.33 - 3.38), a history of head injury (ORa = 3.38, CI 95% 1.16 - 9.83) and non - consumption of coffee (ORa = 3.04, CI 95%1.56 - 5.90) were significantly associated with the onset of the disease. In a univariate analysis, well water consumption was observed as a significant risk factor but could not be shown to be significant in a multivariate analysis. Previous work on a farm (ORa = 0.30, CI 95% 0.16 - 0.54) and history of general anesthesia (ORa = 0.47, CI 95% 0.27 - 0.83) were inversely associated with PD risk. No statistical significance was observed in the data on occupational exposure and disease risk, although there was a 30% decrease in risk for the service occupations (ORa = 0.05, CI 95% 0.01 - 0.18).

As a result, further research is needed to determine additional risk factors.