Objective: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of essential tremor (ET) stratified by age and sex, using insurance claims data from a large representative [1,2] sample in Germany between 2010 and 2021.

Background: ET is a chronic, progressive, and disabling neurologic condition that causes uncontrolled shaking, usually affecting the hands [3], which can impair mental health, quality of life, and patients’ ability to perform daily activities [3,4]. There is limited evidence on the epidemiology and burden of comorbidities among these patients. Such evidence is important for clinical and policy decision-making to optimize ET care [5].

Method: This retrospective study was conducted using 2 insurance claims datasets (period: 01/01/2010 to 31/03/2022) provided by AOK PLUS (AOK) and GWQ ServicePlus (GWQ), which contain records of approximately 8.4 million insured persons combined. To estimate point prevalence and cumulative incidence, we identified all patients with ET during the study period who had no diagnosis of another tremor-related neurologic disorder after initial ET diagnosis or prescription of a tremor-inducing agent 12 months before ET diagnosis. Prevalence and incidence (standardized by age and sex) were calculated for each year and extrapolated to the German population.

Results: In total, 7,452 (AOK) and 9,512 (GWQ) patients were identified for inclusion in the analysis. When extrapolated for the German population across the study period, ET prevalence (after standardizing for age and sex) increased each year, reaching 195.74 and 249.51 per 100,000 persons for AOK and GWQ, respectively, in 2021. The relative number per 100,000 persons markedly increased with increasing age, more significantly in the 7^th decade of life, and with the highest values observed in males, regardless of age. The cumulative incidence of ET extrapolated for the German population (after standardizing for age and sex) over the past 10 years, increased from 10.67 to 24.80 and from 13.84 to 25.68 per 100,000 persons in AOK and GWQ, respectively. Peak incidence was again observed in males, aged 70 to 79. Findings were consistent in both datasets.

Conclusion: This study provides a current examination of the prevalence and incidence of ET in Germany. Epidemiological estimates determined that while ET incidence was relatively stable, prevalence increased between 2010 and 2021, showing the need for clinical and policy decision-making to optimize ET care.

References: [1] Surmann B, Witte J, Batram M, Criée CP, Hermann C, Leischker A, Schelling J, Steinmüller M, Wahle K, Heiseke AF, Marijic P. Epidemiology of Pertussis and Pertussis-Related Complications in Adults: A German Claims Data Analysis. Infect Dis Ther. 2024 Feb;13(2):385-399. doi: 10.1007/s40121-023-00912-z. Epub 2024 Jan 31. PMID: 38294623; PMCID: PMC10904701.
[2] Schuster AK, Leisle L, Picker N, Bubendorfer-Vorwerk H, Lewis P, Hahn P, Wasem J, Finger RP. Epidemiology of Diagnosed Age-related Macular Degeneration in Germany: An Evaluation of the Prevalence Using AOK PLUS Claims Data. Ophthalmol Ther. 2024 Apr;13(4):1025-1039. doi: 10.1007/s40123-024-00901-6. Epub 2024 Feb 22. PMID: 38386186; PMCID: PMC10912065.
[3] Haubenberger D, Hallett M. Essential tremor. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(19):1802-1810. doi:10.1056/nejmcp1707928.
[4] Louis ED, Barnes L, Albert SM, et al. Correlates of functional disability in essential tremor. Mov Disord. 2001;16(5):914-920. doi:10.1002/mds.1184.
[5] Chambers LW, Ehrlich A, Picard L, Edwards P. The art and science of evidence-based decision-making …epidemiology can help! Canadian Journal of Public Health 2002; 93 (1)I1-8.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/how-common-is-essential-tremor-in-germany-a-real-world-claims-data-analysis/