Prevalence of Advanced Parkinson's Disease in Patients Treated in the Hospitals of the Spanish National Healthcare System: The PARADISE Study

Background: Advanced Parkinson’s disease (APD) has been recently defined as a stage in which certain symptoms and complications are present, with a detrimental influence on the overall patient’s health conditions and with a poor response to conventional treatments. However, historically, the term APD has been controversial, thus consequently, APD prevalence has not been previously studied. Objectives: The main objective was to determine the prevalence of APD in patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD in hospitals of the Spanish National Healthcare System. Secondary objectives were the prevalence and incidence of PD and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and quality of life of patients with APD or non-APD. Methods: This was a non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter, national study in the hospital setting. Results: The study population included 929 patients with PD (mean age 71.8 ± 10.1 years; 53.8% male) and a mean time since diagnosis of 6.6 ± 5.4 years. At the time of diagnosis, 613 patients (66.06%) reported having had premotor symptoms. The Hoehn and Yahr stage was 1 in 15.7% of the patients, 2 in 42.8%, 3 in 30.1%, 4 in 9.9%, and 5 in 1.4%; 46.9% of the patients had comorbidities (mean age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index 3.5 ± 1.7; median 10-year survival 77%) and the mean 8-item Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire was 27.8 ± 20.5. We found an APD prevalence of 38.21% (95%CI: 35.08–41.42%), a PD prevalence of 118.4 (95%CI: 117.3–119.6), and a PD incidence of 9.4 (95%CI: 5.42–13.4) all per 100,000 population. Among the APD population, a 15.2% were receiving some form of therapy for advanced stages of the disease (deep brain stimulation, levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel, or apomorphine subcutaneous infusion). Conclusions: The percentage of patients with APD in the hospitals of the Spanish National Healthcare System was 38.2%.

A Spanish Consensus on the Use of Safinamide for Parkinson's Disease in Clinical Practice

Safinamide is an approved drug for the treatment of fluctuations in Parkinson's disease (PD). Scarce data are available on its use in clinical practice. A group of Spanish movement disorders specialists was convened to review the use of safinamide across different clinical scenarios that may guide neurologists in clinical practice. Eight specialists with recognized expertise in PD management elaborated the statements based on available evidence in the literature and on their clinical experience. The RAND/UCLA method was carried, with final conclusions accepted after a 2-round modified Delphi process. Higher level of agreement between panellists was reached for the following statements. Safinamide significantly improves mean daily ON time without troublesome dyskinesias [corrected]. Adjunctive treatment with safinamide is associated with motor improvements in patients with mid-to-late PD. The efficacy of safinamide on motor fluctuations is maintained at long-term, with no increase over time in dyskinesias severity. The clinical benefits of safinamide on pain and depression remain unclear. Safinamide presents a similar incidence of adverse events compared with placebo. The efficacy and safety of safinamide shown in the pivotal clinical trials are reproduced in clinical practice, with improvement of parkinsonian symptoms, decrease of daily OFF time, control of dyskinesias at the long term, and good tolerability and safety.

Validation study of the Parkinson's Fatigue Scale in advanced Parkinson's disease

Purpose: To validate the Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale (PFS-16) in advanced Parkinson Disease (APD) patients using the scale’s Spanish version.

Patients and methods: In a clinical study for Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel (LCIG), 59 patients were assessed over six months using the PFS-16 and other instruments. The psychometric properties of the PFS-16 were then analyzed.

Results: Patients (60.7% men) were aged 68.02±7.43 years. PD duration was 12.57±5.97 years. Median Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage of patients in “on” was 2 (range: 1–4). There were excellent data quality and acceptability for the PFS-16 as a whole, except for moderate-to-high ceiling effects in its items. Two factors explained 67% of the variance, yet parallel analysis demonstrated the unidimensional nature of the PFS-16, whose internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach’s alpha=0.93; item homogeneity coefficient=0.19, and item total-corrected correlations=0.50–0.84). PFS-16 total score showed moderate-to-high correlations with fatigue-specific questions within clinical tools, namely item 20 of the Beck Depression Inventory (r_S=0.65) and item 4 of the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (r_S=0.33). Weak-to-moderate correlations were observed between the PFS-16 and measures of anxiety, depression, apathy, and quality of life. There were no significant differences in PFS-16 total scores when grouped by age, sex, time from diagnosis, HY, and CGI-S. After treatment with LCIG, the relative change in PFS-16 total score was −17.6% and the effect size (Cohen’s d) was 0.92. Moderate correlations between changes in the PFS-16 and several other clinical tools were also found.

Conclusion: In APD patients, the PFS-16 showed satisfactory acceptability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness.

Spanish expert consensus on the use of safinamide in Parkinson's disease

Safinamide is a new add-on drug to levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) with motor fluctuations. Due to the recent incorporation of safinamide into routine clinical practice, no post-authorisation phase IV studies on the safety of safinamide have been conducted to date. This study provides clinical management guidelines for safinamide based on the opinion of a group of experts in movement disorders. This project was developed in 2 phases: 16 local meetings in phase 1 and a national meeting in phase 2. The meetings followed a pre-established agenda. The present clinical practice guidelines are based on the main conclusions reached during the national meeting. The group concluded that safinamide is effective in reducing motor and non-motor fluctuations. PD patients with mild-to-moderate fluctuations benefit most from treatment, although the drug may also improve the clinical status of patients with advanced PD. The dose of other dopaminergic drugs may be reduced after introducing safinamide, which would contribute to reducing such adverse reactions as impulse control disorder. At doses higher than those usually prescribed, safinamide may also improve dyskinesia. The experts agreed that safinamide is well tolerated and causes few adverse reactions when compared with placebo.

[Deep brain stimulation in parkinsonian patients with dopa intolerance]

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is at present, a useful treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and motor complications. The crucial step toward consistent DBS outcomes remains careful patient selection; several conditions must be fulfilled including excellent levo dopa response. We report two cases of early onset Parkinson's disease with severe intolerance to levo dopa but excellent and sustained response to DBS. DBS can be a useful alternative for parkinsonian patients with severe intolerance to levo dopa, provided a positive acute response to levo dopa or apomorphine is obtained.

Long-term effectiveness of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in 177 Spanish patients with advanced Parkinson's disease

AIM

To assess long-term effectiveness and tolerability of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) in Spanish patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

PATIENTS & METHODS

This was an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective study.

RESULTS

Data of 177 patients were analyzed. LCIG treatment led to a reduction in the percentage of daily 'off' time (16.2 vs 47.6% before LCIG), an increase in the percentage of daily 'on' time without disabling dyskinesia (55.6 vs 21.6%). Most patients experienced improvements in freezing of gait, tremor, dizziness, fatigue or flat mood. Adverse events related to levodopa, gastrostomy and technical issues were reported in 36.2, 42.4 and 43.5% of patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the long-term effectiveness and safety profile of LCIG in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

COPPADIS-2015 (COhort of Patients with PArkinson's DIsease in Spain, 2015), a global--clinical evaluations, serum biomarkers, genetic studies and neuroimaging--prospective, multicenter, non-interventional, long-term study on Parkinson's disease progression

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing motor and non-motor symptoms that can affect independence, social adjustment and the quality of life (QoL) of both patients and caregivers. Studies designed to find diagnostic and/or progression biomarkers of PD are needed. We describe here the study protocol of COPPADIS-2015 (COhort of Patients with PArkinson’s DIsease in Spain, 2015), an integral PD project based on four aspects/concepts: 1) PD as a global disease (motor and non-motor symptoms); 2) QoL and caregiver issues; 3) Biomarkers; 4) Disease progression.

Methods/design

Observational, descriptive, non-interventional, 5-year follow-up, national (Spain), multicenter (45 centers from 15 autonomous communities), evaluation study. Specific goals: (1) detailed study (clinical evaluations, serum biomarkers, genetic studies and neuroimaging) of a population of PD patients from different areas of Spain, (2) comparison with a control group and (3) follow-up for 5 years. COPPADIS-2015 has been specifically designed to assess 17 proposed objectives. Study population: approximately 800 non-dementia PD patients, 600 principal caregivers and 400 control subjects. Study evaluations: (1) baseline includes motor assessment (e.g., Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III), non-motor symptoms (e.g., Non-Motor Symptoms Scale), cognition (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease Cognitive Rating Scale), mood and neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., Neuropsychiatric Inventory), disability, QoL (e.g., 39-item Parkinson’s disease Quality of Life Questionnaire Summary-Index) and caregiver status (e.g., Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory); (2) follow-up includes annual (patients) or biannual (caregivers and controls) evaluations. Serum biomarkers (S-100b protein, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid, homocysteine, uric acid, C-reactive protein, ferritin, iron) and brain MRI (volumetry, tractography and MTAi [Medial Temporal Atrophy Index]), at baseline and at the end of follow-up, and genetic studies (DNA and RNA) at baseline will be performed in a subgroup of subjects (300 PD patients and 100 control subjects). Study periods: (1) recruitment period, from November, 2015 to February, 2017 (basal assessment); (2) follow-up period, 5 years; (3) closing date of clinical follow-up, May, 2022. Funding: Public/Private.

Discussion

COPPADIS-2015 is a challenging initiative. This project will provide important information on the natural history of PD and the value of various biomarkers.

[Advanced Parkinson's disease: clinical characteristics and treatment (part 1)]

INTRODUCTION

A large percentage of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) develop motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, and severe non-motor symptoms within 3 to 5 years of starting dopaminergic therapy, and these motor complications are refractory to treatment. Several authors refer to this stage of the disease as advanced Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To define the clinical manifestations of advanced PD and the risk factors for reaching this stage of the disease.

DEVELOPMENT

This consensus document has been prepared by using an exhaustive literature search and by discussion of the contents by an expert group on movement disorders of the Sociedad Española de Neurología (Spanish Neurology Society), coordinated by two of the authors (JK and MRL).

CONCLUSIONS

Severe motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, axial motor symptoms resistant to levodopa, and cognitive decline are the main signs in the clinical phenotype of advanced PD.