Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of movement disorders and their characteristics in the outpatient department of neurology at the Douala general hospital in Cameroon.

Background: Movement disorders are of increasing interest in the world of neuroscience. However, in Cameroon very few studies are devoted to this group of neurological conditions of varying severity and very often difficult to diagnose and manage.

Method: A retrospective study was carried out from January 2019 to December 2020. The files of patients followed in neurology consultation were carefully examined and those of patients with a diagnosis of movement disorders were retained. Data concerning age, gender, commodities, clinical presentation and definitive diagnosis were entered and analysed using SPSS v23.0 software.

Results: Of the 1,126 medical records reviewed, 35 (prevalence = 3.1%) had a formal diagnosis of movement disorders. The mean age was 49.6 ± 20 years and 57.1% of the patients were female. The most common comorbidities were alcohol consumption and high blood pressure. 11.4% of patients had a family history of movement disorders. Parkinsonism (22.9%), dystonia (20%), and cerebellar (17.1%) and essential (14.3%) tremors were the dominant clinical forms. Aetiologies were mainly Parkinson’s disease (25.7%) and stroke (8.6%). Huntington’s disease accounted for 5.7% of cases. In 37.1% of cases, the aetiology remained unknown.

Conclusion: Movement disorders are not uncommon in outpatient neurology consultation at the Douala General Hospital. Parkinson’s disease is the most common aetiology. The provision of more advanced diagnostic tools and training could contribute to the precise identification of the different etiologies and improve the management of our patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-epidemiology-of-movement-disorders-in-douala-general-hospital-cameroon-a-two-years-retrospective-study/