[Investigation on prevalence rate of essential tremor in population aged 55 years old and above in Kashkar, between 2008 and 2009].

Objective To investigate the prevalence and clinical feature of essential tremor (ET)in a community cohort of the elderly in kashkar. Methods By using a door-to-door, two-phase screening approach, some 2834 residents of Hans ethnicity were investigated form 2008 to 2009. Results In this study, 184 ET patients were found. The prevalence rate of ET was 6. 49%. The prevalence rate was increased with age and higher in men (8.45%) than in women (4. 59% ),especially in people ageds above 75years old. The prevalance rate of ET was 7.26% in illiterate people, followed by 7.27%, 5.81%, 5.58% and 9. 37% in those having received primary,junior, senior high school and college. The ratio of windowed people in ET patients was 15.21% ,higher to the ratio of windowed people in total number. Conclusions The prevalence rate of ET increased with age, but not influenced by education. Key words: Essential tremor; Epidemiology; Prevalence