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Review
. 2025 Jan 12:12:100300.
doi: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2025.100300. eCollection 2025.

Retrospective database analysis on the demographics and resource utilization of patients with Parkinson's disease in Quebec, Canada

Véronique Baribeau  1 , Shawn Mohammed  2 , Amnah Awan  2 , Diana Parison  2 , Jean Lachaine  1
Affiliations
Review

Retrospective database analysis on the demographics and resource utilization of patients with Parkinson's disease in Quebec, Canada

Véronique Baribeau et al. Clin Park Relat Disord. .

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative movement disorder. Despite its recognized significance, there remains a paucity of recent studies reporting treatment utilization and the economic impact of PD in a real-world setting, especially in Canada. This study aimed to analyze real-world treatment patterns and health care resource utilization (HCRU) of patients with PD in Quebec, Canada.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study using data between 2010-2019 from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) databases. Patients with PD were compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Treatment adherence and persistence were measured over 24 months. All-cause and PD-related HCRU and costs were characterized on an annual basis.

Results: Overall, 303 PD patients and 909 age- and sex-matched controls were selected. Adherence rates were high (≥85 %) among all drug classes, but lower with dopamine agonists. Persistence to PD treatment declined over time, with nearly 50 % discontinuation rates at 24 months in all PD drug classes, except the levodopa class (discontinuation rate: 20.4 %). PD patients had a significantly higher total costs per year than the matched control group ($17,405 vs. $6,431), mainly driven by higher inpatient costs.

Conclusion: Many pharmacological options exist for PD patients and, though patients are adherent while on therapy, treatment discontinuation rates are high. This suggests potential long-term challenges in PD management, especially since PD continues to place a substantial burden on the health care system. This study underscores the need for enhanced therapeutic strategies, particularly for patients inadequately controlled with standard therapies.

Keywords: Adherence; Administrative database; Cost; Parkinson’s disease; Persistence; Resources.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Amnah Awan, Shawn Mohammed, and Diana Parison are employees of AbbVie Canada. Shawn Mohammed, and Diana Parison and Amnah Awan own AbbVie stock. Véronique Baribeau is an employee of PeriPharm (Montreal, Canada) and Jean Lachaine is a partner of PeriPharm (Montreal, Canada).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Treatment adherence rates over 24 months by drug class.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Treatment discontinuation rates over 24 months by drug class.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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