Table 4.
Additional clinical characteristics of 47 patients with a post-evaluation diagnosis of ET vs. 29 patients with a post-evaluation diagnosis of dystonia.
| Characteristics | Post-evaluation diagnosis = ET (n = 47)* | Post-evaluation diagnosis = dystonia (n = 29)* | OR ** (95% confidence interval) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referral ET diagnosis made by a non- neurologist | 7 (16.3%) | 10 (34.5%) | 2.7 (0.9–8.2) | 0.08 |
| Referral diagnosis made <1 year ago | 7 (35.0%) | 9 (50.0%) | 1.9 (0.5–6.8) | 0.35 |
| Onset of tremor <5 years ago | 6 (12.8%) | 7 (24.1%) | 2.2 (0.7–7.3) | 0.21 |
| ET medications tried | 34 (72.3%) | 17 (58.6%) | 0.5 (0.2–1.4) | 0.22 |
| History: unilateral tremor | 1 (2.1%) | 2 (6.9%) | 3.4 (0.3–39.4) | 0.33 |
| History: leg tremor | 1 (2.1%) | 1 (4.5%) | 1.6 (0.1–27.3) | 0.73 |
| History: head tremor only | 0 (0.0%) | 5 (17.2%) | 21.3 (1.1–401.7) | 0.041 |
| History: head tremor started before the upper limb tremor | 1 (2.1%) | 3 (10.3%) | 7.0 (0.5–97.8) | 0.15 |
| History: handwriting impaired | 21 (44.7%) | 9 (31.0%) | 0.6 (0.2–1.5) | 0.24 |
| Eastern European Jewish ancestry | 3 (6.4%) | 8 (27.6%) | 5.6 (1.3–23.2) | 0.018 |
| Celtic ancestry | 10 (21.3%) | 9 (31.0%) | 1.7 (0.6–4.8) | 0.34 |
| Examination: unilateral tremor | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | ||
| Examination: leg tremor | 1 (2.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.5 (0.0–13.3) | 0.70 |
| Examination: head tremor only | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (10.3%) | 12.5 (0.6–252.3) | 0.01 |
| Examination: tremor is irregular | 0 (0.0%) | 14 (48.3%) | 88.9 (5.0–1,578.4) | 0.002 |
| Examination: rest tremor | 7 (14.9%) | 3 (10.3%) | 0.7 (0.2–2.8) | 0.57 |
| Examination: head tremor improves while lying down | 8 (17.0%) | 6 (20.7%) | 0.8 (0.2–3.0) | 0.68 |
| Examination: head tremor has a directional quality | 3 (6.4%) | 9 (31.0%) | 6.6 (1.6–27.0) | 0.009 |
| Examination: abnormal limb postures | 13 (27.7%) | 24 (82.8%) | 12.6 (4.0–40.0) | 0.001 |
| Examination: focal muscle hypertrophy | 1 (2.1%) | 3 (10.3%) | 5.3 (0.5–53.7) | 0.16 |
| Examination: one or more cardinal features of PD | 3 (6.4%) | 2 (6.9%) | 1.1 (0.2–6.9) | 0.93 |
| Examination: reduced arm swing | 13 (27.7%) | 6 (20.7%) | 0.7 (0.2–2.1) | 0.50 |
| Examination: slow rapid alternating movements | 8 (17.0%) | 3 (10.3%) | 0.6 (0.1–2.3) | 0.43 |
| Examination: intention tremor | 31 (66.0%) | 13 (44.8%) | 0.4 (0.2–1.1) | 0.073 |
| Examination: single axis on the spiral test | 33 (82.5%) | 4 (16.6%) | 0.04 (0.01–0.2) | 0.001 |
| Examination: multiple axes on the spiral test | 2 (5.0%) | 11 (45.8%) | 16.1 (3.1–82.3) | 0.001 |
| Examination: voice breaks or spasmodic voice | 0 (0.0%) | 6 (20.7%) | 54.6 (2.2–1,326.3) | 0.014 |
ET, essential tremor; OR, odds ratio.
*
In a small number of patients, data were missing. Percentages and ORs reflect the n with complete data.
**
OR reflects dystonia/ET.