Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore

Objective. The aim of this study is to compare Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment practices by movement disorder (MD) specialists across a decade, and to determine the factors that influence drug choice for the motor symptoms of PD in newly diagnosed drug-naïve patients. Methods. This prospective te...

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Main Authors: Shermyn Neo, Sheng Yong Aidan Wong, Hwee Lan Ng, Wei Li, Kay Yaw Tay, Wing Lok Au, Louis Chew Seng Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6293124
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author Shermyn Neo
Sheng Yong Aidan Wong
Hwee Lan Ng
Wei Li
Kay Yaw Tay
Wing Lok Au
Louis Chew Seng Tan
author_facet Shermyn Neo
Sheng Yong Aidan Wong
Hwee Lan Ng
Wei Li
Kay Yaw Tay
Wing Lok Au
Louis Chew Seng Tan
author_sort Shermyn Neo
collection DOAJ
description Objective. The aim of this study is to compare Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment practices by movement disorder (MD) specialists across a decade, and to determine the factors that influence drug choice for the motor symptoms of PD in newly diagnosed drug-naïve patients. Methods. This prospective temporal analysis included patients seen at the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore and diagnosed with PD by MD specialists in the years 2007 and 2017. Primary outcomes were use of specific PD drugs and changes in drug-prescribing patterns. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression models determined the extent to which patient characteristics were associated with type of PD treatment. Results. Of 230 patients with PD (mean (SD) age, 66.7 (10.3) years), 131 (57.0%) were male. From 2007 to 2017, the use of ergot dopamine agonists and anticholinergics decreased from 19.3% to 2.0% (P<0.001) and from 12.0% to 2.7% (P=0.004), respectively. The use of monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (MAOBI) increased from 13.3% to 25.2% (P=0.033). The use of levodopa (LD)-sparing strategies decreased nonsignificantly from 33.7% to 24.5% (P=0.133). Overall, 196 (85.2%) patients were initiated on symptomatic monotherapy, with LD being the most commonly prescribed. MAOBI was the most common drug used in combination therapy. Age ≤70 (adjusted OR, 11.9; 95% CI, 4.5–31.5) and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage <2 (adjusted OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.5–7.7) were independent factors for LD-sparing strategies. Non-LD prescriptions (13 of 92; 14.1%) were more likely to be discontinued compared to LD ones (6 of 149; 4.0%) (P=0.005). Conclusions. Drug-prescribing patterns in PD have changed significantly through the last decade, influenced by emerging evidence and reports of adverse drug effects. Choosing drugs based on the patient’s age and disease severity remain sound guiding principles across the years. It is important that international and national guidelines for pharmacotherapy in PD be updated consistently throughout different socioeconomic settings to optimize care.
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spelling doaj-art-6140518219b84fdabd2d2b7825a0d74e2025-08-20T03:34:49ZengWileyParkinson's Disease2090-80832042-00802020-01-01202010.1155/2020/62931246293124Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in SingaporeShermyn Neo0Sheng Yong Aidan Wong1Hwee Lan Ng2Wei Li3Kay Yaw Tay4Wing Lok Au5Louis Chew Seng Tan6Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeObjective. The aim of this study is to compare Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment practices by movement disorder (MD) specialists across a decade, and to determine the factors that influence drug choice for the motor symptoms of PD in newly diagnosed drug-naïve patients. Methods. This prospective temporal analysis included patients seen at the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore and diagnosed with PD by MD specialists in the years 2007 and 2017. Primary outcomes were use of specific PD drugs and changes in drug-prescribing patterns. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression models determined the extent to which patient characteristics were associated with type of PD treatment. Results. Of 230 patients with PD (mean (SD) age, 66.7 (10.3) years), 131 (57.0%) were male. From 2007 to 2017, the use of ergot dopamine agonists and anticholinergics decreased from 19.3% to 2.0% (P<0.001) and from 12.0% to 2.7% (P=0.004), respectively. The use of monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (MAOBI) increased from 13.3% to 25.2% (P=0.033). The use of levodopa (LD)-sparing strategies decreased nonsignificantly from 33.7% to 24.5% (P=0.133). Overall, 196 (85.2%) patients were initiated on symptomatic monotherapy, with LD being the most commonly prescribed. MAOBI was the most common drug used in combination therapy. Age ≤70 (adjusted OR, 11.9; 95% CI, 4.5–31.5) and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage <2 (adjusted OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.5–7.7) were independent factors for LD-sparing strategies. Non-LD prescriptions (13 of 92; 14.1%) were more likely to be discontinued compared to LD ones (6 of 149; 4.0%) (P=0.005). Conclusions. Drug-prescribing patterns in PD have changed significantly through the last decade, influenced by emerging evidence and reports of adverse drug effects. Choosing drugs based on the patient’s age and disease severity remain sound guiding principles across the years. It is important that international and national guidelines for pharmacotherapy in PD be updated consistently throughout different socioeconomic settings to optimize care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6293124
spellingShingle Shermyn Neo
Sheng Yong Aidan Wong
Hwee Lan Ng
Wei Li
Kay Yaw Tay
Wing Lok Au
Louis Chew Seng Tan
Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
Parkinson's Disease
title Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
title_full Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
title_fullStr Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
title_full_unstemmed Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
title_short Evolution of Initial Pharmacologic Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease Patients over a Decade in Singapore
title_sort evolution of initial pharmacologic treatment of newly diagnosed parkinson s disease patients over a decade in singapore
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6293124
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