Estimating the Effect of Early Treatment Initiation in Parkinson's Disease Using Observational Data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Both patients and physicians may choose to delay initiation of dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) for various reasons. We used observational data to estimate the effect of earlier treatment in PD. Observational data offer a valuable source of evidence, complementary to controlled trials.

Method

We studied the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative cohort of patients with de novo PD to estimate the effects of duration of PD treatment during the first 2 years of follow-up, exploiting natural interindividual variation in the time to start first treatment. We estimated the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III (primary outcome) and several functionally relevant outcomes at 2, 3, and 4 years af

SUBMITTER: van den Heuvel L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7984449 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature