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

Abstract

Background: 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. Objectives: This study investigates the role of family, environmental, and professional factors in PD development. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: As a result, further research is needed to determine additional risk factors.