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Optimizing Treatment in Undertreated Late-Stage Parkinsonism: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial

Hommel, ALAJ; Meinders, MJ; Weerkamp, NJ; Richinger, C; Schmotz, C; Lorenzl, S; Dodel, R; ... Schrag, A; + view all (2020) Optimizing Treatment in Undertreated Late-Stage Parkinsonism: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial. Journal of Parkinson's Disease , 10 (3) pp. 1171-1184. 10.3233/JPD-202033. Green open access

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Abstract

Background: Treatment of patients with late-stage parkinsonism is often sub-optimal. / Objective: To test the effectiveness of recommendations by a movement disorder specialist with expertise in late-stage parkinsonism. / Methods: Ninety-one patients with late-stage parkinsonism considered undertreated were included in apragmatic a pragmatic multi-center randomized-controlled trial with six-month follow-up. The intervention group received a letter with treatment recommendations to their primary clinician based on an extensive clinical assessment. Controls received care as usual. The primary outcome was the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)part-II (Activities of Daily Living). Other outcomes included quality-of-life (PDQ-8), mental health (UPDRS-I), motor function (UPDRS-III), treatment complications (UPDRS-IV), cognition (Mini-mental-state-examination), non-motor symptoms (Non-Motor-Symptoms-scale), health status (EQ-5D-5L) and levodopa-equivalent-daily-dose (LEDD). We also assessed adherence to recommendations. In addition to intention-to-treat analyses, a per-protocol analysis was conducted. / Results: Sample size calculation required 288 patients, but only 91 patients could be included. Treating physicians followed recommendations fully in 16 (28%) and partially in 21 (36%) patients. The intention-to-treat analysis showed no difference in primary outcome (between-group difference = –1.2, p = 0.45), but there was greater improvement for PDQ-8 in the intervention group (between-group difference = –3.7, p = 0.02). The per-protocol analysis confirmed these findings, and showed less deterioration in UPDRS-part I, greater improvement on UPDRS-total score and greater increase in LEDD in the intervention group. / Conclusions: The findings suggest that therapeutic gains may be reached even in this vulnerable group of patients with late-stage parkinsonism, but also emphasize that specialist recommendations need to be accompanied by better strategies to implement these to further improve outcomes.

Type: Article
Title: Optimizing Treatment in Undertreated Late-Stage Parkinsonism: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-202033
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-202033
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Parkinsonian disorders, randomized controlled trial, treatment, activities of daily living, quality of life
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10112127
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