Objective: To provide descriptive data on clinical features and therapy of older patients with PD (OPD) from an Italian single centre.

Background: The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), is expected to increase significantly in the next future, with relevant socio-economic implications. OPD represent a category of extreme frailty, presenting higher burden of comorbidities, multiple therapies and different sensitivity to medications . Despite the relevance of this matter, clinical-epidemiological studies lack, although they are essential to drive public health’s choices.

Method: This cross-sectional study retrospectively evaluated over a 7 years long period a group of OPD patients afferent to Tor Vergata University Hospital (Rome, Italy) that at last visit was older than 75 years. Data on age, sex, disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) score, presence of depression, cognitive decline, hallucinations, levodopa induced dyskinesia (LID) and current therapy were collected. Descriptive statistics, parametric test and regression analysis were performed.

Results: 916 PD patients were reviewed and 240 case have been included in the study (61%male) with a mean±SD H&Y score = 2.23±1. Prevalence of depression, cognitive decline, hallucinations and LID were calculated, resulting LID significantly more frequent in male.  The mean±SD levodopa equivalent dose (LED) was 713±358 mg/day. Levodopa (LD) was the largest used medication (>95% of population); dopamine agonists (DA) were administrated in 39.3% and MAO inhibitors (IMAO) in 28.5%. Frequencies of either mono-/multiple therapies or single medication from DA and IMAO groups were calculated together with concomitant other therapies. No significant associations emerged between different therapeutic regimens and clinical complications.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary clinical-epidemiological data on Italian OPD. Of interest, they may constitute the background for future interventions aimed at improving the health status of a rapidly growing frail patient category.

« Back to 2019 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-and-epidemiological-data-on-parkinsons-disease-in-older-adults-experience-of-a-single-italian-centre/