Real-World Experiences of Parkinson's Disease OFF Time and Role of Demographics.

Abstract

OFF periods are episodes when Parkinson's disease (PD) medications work suboptimally, with symptoms returning and impacting quality of life. We aimed to characterize OFF periods using patient-reported frequency, severity, and duration, as well as determine these characteristics' associations with demographics. A retrospective cohort study using Fox Insight Data Exploration Network (Fox DEN) database was conducted. Eligible patients had PD and were >18 years. The experience of OFF periods was characterized by frequency (number of episodes/day), duration (duration/episode), and severity (impact on activities). Significance level was Bonferroni-corrected for multivariate analyses. From a population of 6,757 persons with PD, 88% were non-Hispanic Whites (mean age: 66 ± 8.8 years); 52.7% were males versus 47.3% females; mean PD duration was 5.7 ± 5.2; and 51% experienced OFF periods. Subsequent analyses were limited to non-Hispanic Whites, as they constituted a large majority of the participants and were the subgroup that had the sample size to derive reliable inferences. The analyses showed that 67% experienced 1-2 episodes/day, 90% experienced >15-minute episodes, and 55% reported slight-mild severity/episode. Lower age was associated with a higher frequency (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.992; P<0.001) and severity (odds ratio [OR]: 0.985; P=0.001) of OFF episodes. Income of <$35,000 was associated with 15.1% more episodes/day (IRR: 1.15, p<0.001) and 66.5% higher odds of a severe episode (OR: 1.66; P<0.001). Females experienced 7.5% more episodes compared to males (IRR: 1.075; P=0.003). Longer PD duration was associated with 1.3% more episodes/day (IRR: 1.013; P<0.001) and 10% higher odds of a severe episode (OR: 1.10; P<0.001). Lower age, income <$35,000, longer PD duration, female gender, and being unemployed are associated with a higher frequency and severity of OFF periods with no associations for duration/episode among non-Hispanic Whites with PD. In time-constrained clinic environments, clinicians should tailor OFF periods management counseling to vulnerable demographic groups to enhance care delivery.(J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2024;11:8-17.).