Sex Differences in the Treatment of People with Parkinson’s Disease with a Device-Aided Therapy: A Prospective Real-World Study
Background and Objective: Sex differences in the treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) with a device-aided therapy (DAT) have been poorly investigated. Our aim was to analyze sex differences in the management and response to a DAT in PwP in daily clinical practice (DCP). Patients and Methods: Data collected in the DATs-PD GETM Spanish Registry until 30 October 2025 were used. This is a descriptive, observational, prospective, and multicenter clinical registry with progressive inclusion of PwP treated with a DAT in DCP conditions in more than 40 centers from Spain. Sex differences in the DAT received and changes in quality of life (QoL), motor symptoms (MS), non-motor symptoms (NMS), and autonomy for activities of daily living (AADL) after 6 months of treatment were analyzed. Results: A total of 618 PD patients (66.9 ± 9.5 years old; 57.6% men) were treated with a DAT. A significant difference was observed in the DAT type according to sex (p = 0.006), with 73.1% of PwP who were treated with deep brain stimulation being men. At the time of DAT indication, women were older, received a higher levodopa equivalent daily dose, and had a worse health-related QoL and AADL. OFF time decreased, whereas MS and NMS burden and health-related QoL improved at 6 months follow-up in both groups (men and women). AADL improved only in men during the OFF state. Conclusion: Sex differences were detected in the use of DATs in PwP. Improvement in OFF time, MS, NMS, and QoL was detected in both groups.
Authors
- Francisco Escamilla‐Sevilla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2149-2668)
- Marta Blázquez Estrada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3348-9992)
- Ángela Solleiro Vidal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1009-6902)
- Gustavo Fernández‐Pajarín (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9211-9927)
- Iria Cabo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2436-6499)
- Maria Alvarez Sauco
- Pilar Sánchez Alonso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0496-4707)
- N. Lopez Ariztegui
- A Peral
- Javier Ruiz Martínez
- Rocío García-Ramos
- Déborah Alonso Modino
- Jorge Hernandez-Vara
- Diego Santos García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3126-5111)
- DATs-PD GETM Spanish Registry Group DATs-PD GETM Spanish Registry Group
- Pablo Mir
- Jesús Ramírez Sánchez-Ajofrin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2868-4166)
- Inés Legarda
- Débora M. Cerdán Santacruz
- Lydia Vela
- Guillermo González Ortega (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4763-3265)
Institutions
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- ProMedica Toledo Hospital (US)
- Hospital Clínico San Carlos (ES)
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (ES)
- Hospital General De Segovia (ES)
- Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (ES)
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (ES)
- Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (ES)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (ES)
- Hospital General Universitario de Elche (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (ES)
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari (ES)
- Hospital de Sant Joan Despí Moisès Broggi (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (ES)
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Son Espases (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (ES)
- Hospital Universitario San Rafael (ES)
- Hospital Universitario de Móstoles (ES)
- Complejo Hospitalario de Pontevedra (ES)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (ES)
- Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Toledo (ES)
- Universidad de Sevilla (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Medical Sciences
- Published
- 2026-04-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci14020217
- Primary Topic
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00