Prevalence of essential tremor and associated factors in older adults at a health unit in Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of essential tremor and associated factors in older adults.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in individuals aged 59 years and older attending primary care in a health unit in Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico. Each participant was surveyed on their sociodemographic characteristics, family history, personal pathological history, and lifestyle habits, with a subsequent clinical evaluation, guided by conventional diagnostic criteria to identify essential tremor, which consisted of activities such as holding the arms extended in front of them, drawing the Archimedean spiral, pouring water into a glass, using a spoon to drink and the finger-to-nose maneuver; in addition, if a tremor was observed, we proceeded to inquire about its characteristics, period of onset and exclusion of immediate causes.

Results: A total of 200 individuals were included, the majority of whom were female. The mean age was 68.5 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of essential tremor was 18%, distributed among the following factors: 15% of the female population, 23.3% of the males, 26.67% with AHF of pathological tremor, 21.4% with a history of head trauma, 50% of those exposed to pesticides, 55.56% with high meat consumption, 28.8% with high coffee consumption, 60% with high alcohol intake and 100% with smoking habits.

Conclusions: The prevalence obtained was higher than values commonly reported in other studies. A significant correlation was observed with the following factors: age, pesticide exposure, meat intake, coffee consumption, alcohol intake, and smoking habits.

Keywords: Essential tremor; Prevalence; Associated factors.