Table 3.
Summary of the Samples Used in This Study
| Cohort | Sample Size | Mean Age (SD) | Females/Males |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian PD casesa | 486 | 58.7 (11.3) | 172/314 |
| German PD casesb | 376 | 71.1 (9.4) | 119/257 |
| KORA S4 controlsc | 680 | 54.7 (11.9) | 280/400 |
| KORA-AGE controlsd | 1014 | 76.0 (6.6) | 508/505 |
| Austrian controlse | 554 | 46 (15.2) | 254/300 |
Patients presenting with atypical or secondary (e.g., vascular) parkinsonian disorders as well as patients with known mutations were excluded.
The Austrian cases were recruited at the Department of Neurology, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vienna, as well as in affiliated departments on a consecutive basis. A positive family history for PD was reported from 131 patients. A positive family history was defined by at least one other affected first- or second-degree related family member.
The German PD population originated from the Paracelsus-Elena Klinik, Kassel, a hospital specializing in movement disorders.
This control population was recruited from the KORA S4 survey, comprising individuals who were aged 25–74 years and were examined during 1999–2001.
The KORA-AGE samples were collected in 2009 as a gender- and age-stratified subsample of the KORA S1–S4 studies comprising participants born before 1944. KORA S1–S4 surveys comprise four independent cross-sectional population-based studies in the region of Augsburg, Southern Germany, and were conducted in 5 year intervals. Patients for whom PD was suspected on the basis of questionnaire data were excluded.
These control samples were recruited through the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, as subjects without known history of a neurological disorder and included, for example, blood donors or unrelated companions or spouses of patients.