Epidemiology and outcome of cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis) in Rochester, Minnesota

Abstract

The natural history of cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis) was investigated in a population-based study in Rochester, Minnesota. Eleven new cases were identified with onset during the 20-year period 1960-1979. The overall incidence rate was 1.2 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.5-1.9) with a female:male ratio of age-adjusted incidence rates of 3.6:1. A unitary etiology was not apparent: injury antedated onset in four of the 11 patients, whereas six had documented thyroid disease and four had diabetes. A family history of movement disorder was recorded for only one subject. Only one of the cases would have been classified as moderate in severity; the others were mild. In follow-up through 1993, progressive disability was noted in only two patients, and two others went into remission. Three cases of intracranial aneurysm were confirmed, two of which produced fatal subarachnoid hemorrahage. A third death was due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Retrocollis: Classification, Clinical Phenotype, Treatment Outcomes and Risk Factors

“…Similar results have been reported for other forms of CD [2]. However, no female gender preference was reported in our cohort [11]. Although we report a somewhat lower frequency of RC than previous studies [4], this may reflect local referral patterns and/or use of alternative criteria for RC.…”

Minimum incidence of primary cervical dystonia in a multiethnic health care population

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] There have been two previous estimates of the incidence of this disorder, and both were performed in populations of largely European descent. 7,8 There are no published estimates from ethnically diverse populations. Studies from Japan have variably suggested a lower overall prevalence of focal dystonias than in European populations 9 and a different pattern of relative prevalence among the focal dystonias.…”

The physical, social and emotional aspects are the most affected in the quality of life of the patients with cervical dystonia

“…Dystonia is often initiated or worsened by voluntary action and associated with overflow muscle activation 1 . Among the various forms of dystonia, the most frequent in adults is the cervical dystonia (CD), a focal type that affects the muscles of the cervical region 2 .…”