Category: Telemedicine
Objective: To compare the access and visit quality/acceptability between in-office and virtual telemedicine visits for patients with Parkinson’ s disease (PD)
Background: Overcoming existing access barriers is crucial for better-specialized healthcare of patients with PD
Method: This was an international, randomized, case-control, longitudinal, observational study. Patients were randomly assigned to the control group (in-person/in-office visits at baseline, 3,6, 9, and 12 months), or the study group (baseline, 6 and 12-month in-office visits, and 3 and 9-month telemedicine visits). Telemedicine visits were conducted using videoconferencing apps that were readily accessible to the patient/caregivers. Outcomes were feasibility, usability, and the non-inferiority of telemedicine compared to in-office visits in PD patients regarding clinical progression and initiation of pharmacological/non-pharmacological treatments over one-year follow-up
Results: We included 209 PD patients from 6 countries (Nigeria, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, and Uruguay), mean age 64.9 + 12.2 years, 59% males, median Hoehn Yahr stage 2 (1-4). Overall, disease progression (MDS-Unified PD rating scale), quality of life (PD-Quality of life 39-items) scores, and therapeutic changes were similar in both groups (p>0.05). After one year, 124 patients (48.3%, control group), and 52.1% (TM group) completed the visits (p=0.52), with a similar high rate of satisfaction with the visits (p=0.57)
Conclusion: This study represents real-world telemedicine practice in different World regions using a non-inferiority approach with an alternate schedule for telemedicine complementary to in-person visits. Based on these results, feasibility, clinical management, PD disease progression, and patient’s quality of life are similar using telemedicine vs. in-office visits
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
E. Cubo, J. Youn, J. Ahn, O. Ojo, N. Okubadejo, Z. Aldaajani, M. Essam, A. Shalash, A. Garcia, A. Cardozo, M. Spindler, Z. Mari. The feasibility and practical utility of virtual visits for patients with Parkinson’s disease in different World Regions [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-feasibility-and-practical-utility-of-virtual-visits-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-in-different-world-regions-2/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-feasibility-and-practical-utility-of-virtual-visits-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-in-different-world-regions-2/