Objective: To describe the development and organization of the Consortium for Global Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease (CDG-PD), created in 2020 with a broad aim to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) through research, education and outreach in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) countries.
Background: The MENASA region is ancient, diversely ethnic and considerably underrepresented in global PD research. The CDG-PD as a founding initiative aims to implement a region specific MENASA Parkinson’s Patient Database to capture information on the genetic, phenotypic characteristics and evolution of PD, disparities in clinical practice and treatment outcomes specific to this region.
Method: The database covers demographic information, comorbid conditions, PD-related motor and non-motor disability, and medications. It will also include data on genetic and environmental factors which may increase the risk of PD. Data will be collected using a pre-specified questionnaire and scales validated for use in PD.
30 centers from MENASA countries will participate. A principal investigator for the database at each center and a steering committee has been established with representation from each participating center.
Results: This data will help clinicians and researchers in understanding the ethnic, genetic, and geographic variations in clinical manifestations and outcomes of PD, paving the way to strategies aimed at advancing better understanding, treatment, and quality of life for patients with PD in the MENASA countries.
Conclusion: This data base has the potential to 1) facilitate efforts planned to improve quality of life for PD in MENASA; and 2) distribute knowledge associated with the most effective treatments in MENASA; and 3) bridge gaps in understanding genetic and epidemiological causes of PD through researching ancient and diverse cohorts.
References: 1- Khalil H, Chahine LM, Siddiqui J, Salari M, El-Jaafary S, et al.,Parkinson’s Disease in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia: Consensus from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force for the Middle East, J Parkinsons Dis. 2020;10(2):729-741. doi: 10.3233/JPD-191751. 2- Khalil H, Chahine L, Siddiqui J, Aldaajani Z, Bajwa JA, Parkinson’s disease in the MENASA countries. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Apr;19(4):293-294. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30026-0. Epub 2020 Mar 10.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J. Bajwa, M. Salari, S. Khan, H. Amer, A. Al-Qassabi, A. Habib, J. Habib, M. Abu Al-Melh, M. Abu Snineh, Q. Un Nisa, S. Zaidi, A. Dahshan, W. Regragui, J. Ahmed, H. Shehata, I. Hashmat, N. Ullah Bullo, S. Om Mittal, T. Mohammad, W. Kamel, T. Houyam, S. Eljaffery, R. Rajan, M. Farghal, F. Abdulla, Z. Al-Daajani, P. Schmidt, H. Khalil. Development of the CONSORTIUM FOR GLOBAL DIVERSITY IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE (CDG-PD) Patient Database [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2021; 36 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/development-of-the-consortium-for-global-diversity-in-parkinsons-disease-cdg-pd-patient-database/. Accessed May 13, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2021
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/development-of-the-consortium-for-global-diversity-in-parkinsons-disease-cdg-pd-patient-database/