Sex Differences in Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms among Spanish Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Diego Santos‐García, Ariadna Laguna, Jorge Hernández‐Vara, Teresa de Deus Fonticoba, Carlos Cores Bartolomé, María J. Feal Painceiras, Maria Cristina Íñiguez-Alvarado, Iago García Díaz, Silvia Jesús, María Teresa Boungiorno, Lluís Planellás, Marina Cosgaya, Juan García Caldentey, Núria Caballol, Inés Legarda, Iria Cabo, Lydia López Manzanares, Isabel González Aramburu, María A. Ávila Rivera, Víctor Gómez‐Mayordomo, Víctor Nogueira, Víctor Puente, Julio Dotor García‐Soto, Carmen Borrué, Berta Solano Vila, María Álvarez Saúco, Lydia Vela, Sonia Escalante, Esther Cubo, Francisco Carrillo Padilla, Juan Carlos Martínez‐Castrillo, Pilar Sánchez Alonso, Maria G. Alonso Losada, Núria López Ariztegui, Itziar Gastón, Jaime Kulisevsky, Manuel Menéndez‐González, Manuel Seijo, Javier Ruiz‐Martínez, Caridad Valero, Mónica Kurtis, Jessica González Ardura, Rubén Alonso Redondo, Carlos Ordás, Luis M. López Díaz, Darrian McAfee, Pablo Martínez‐Martín, Pablo Mir, on behalf of the COPPADIS Study Group
Abstract
Background and objective: Sex plays a role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) mechanisms. We analyzed sex difference manifestations among Spanish patients with PD. Patients and Methods: PD patients who were recruited from the Spanish cohort COPPADIS from January 2016 to November 2017 were included. A cross-sectional and a two-year follow-up analysis were conducted. Univariate analyses and general linear model repeated measure were used. Results: At baseline, data from 681 PD patients (mean age 62.54 ± 8.93) fit the criteria for analysis. Of them, 410 (60.2%) were males and 271 (39.8%) females. There were no differences between the groups in mean age (62.36 ± 8.73 vs. 62.8 ± 9.24; p = 0.297) or in the time from symptoms onset (5.66 ± 4.65 vs. 5.21 ± 4.11; p = 0.259). Symptoms such as depression (p < 0.0001), fatigue (p < 0.0001), and pain (p < 0.00001) were more frequent and/or severe in females, whereas other symptoms such as hypomimia (p < 0.0001), speech problems (p < 0.0001), rigidity (p < 0.0001), and hypersexuality (p < 0.0001) were more noted in males. Women received a lower levodopa equivalent daily dose (p = 0.002). Perception of quality of life was generally worse in females (PDQ-39, p = 0.002; EUROHIS-QOL8, p = 0.009). After the two-year follow-up, the NMS burden (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale total score) increased more significantly in males (p = 0.012) but the functional capacity (Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale) was more impaired in females (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that there are important sex differences in PD. Long-term prospective comparative studies are needed.