Objective: To analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of hispanic patients with Parkinson’s disease in rural southern California
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. Currently, research on PD primarily focuses on White non-Latino patients. This study compares the clinical profiles of PD in Latino females vs males participating in a community-based study in rural southern California.
Method: At our movement disorder center, we established a Parkinson’s registry for patients presenting from January 2021 to January 2025. Patients were interviewed and examined by a movement disorder specialist, and we collected demographic data, medication history, and exam findings (MDS UPDRS). The data were analyzed to compare Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients, as well as male and female Hispanic patients.
Results: The analysis of 75 patients from January 2021 to December 2024 showed that 76% were Hispanic, with a nearly equal gender distribution, but no significant gender difference in prevalence (p > 0.05). While 52.9% of non-Hispanic patients had tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease, 63% of Hispanic patients exhibited a mixed type, with most at Hohen Yahr stage 3. Significant gender differences in disease duration were noted within the Hispanic subgroup, with females having longer disease durations than males (54 months vs. 18 months, p = 0.007), and similar findings for newly diagnosed patients (42 months vs. 12 months, p = 0.014).
Conclusion: In conclusion, our analysis of 75 patients from January 2021 to December 2024 reveals important demographic and clinical characteristics of Parkinson’s disease, particularly in the 76% Hispanic population. in the rural southern California patients mostly presented with advanced stages (Hohen Yahr stage 3). Moreover, the observation that Hispanic females experience a longer disease duration than their male counterparts points to important gender disparities that warrant targeted intervention strategies. To our knowledge this health disparity has not been previously reported in hispanic population and it warrants further research studies.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Maleki, M. Tar, D. Tar. Health Disparity in Rural Southern California [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/health-disparity-in-rural-southern-california/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/health-disparity-in-rural-southern-california/