Comparison of clinical measures of motor function with a Holter monitor in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a significant global health challenge, affecting millions worldwide. This sub-study aims to explore the potential of ambulatory monitoring devices in identifying disease severity and progression in patients. As part of the MOMOPA-EC clinical trial, 156 patients with moderate to severe PD underwent 435 assessments using clinical scales and ambulatory monitoring devices (Parkinson’s Holter). This sub-study seeks to establish relations between parameters derived from Holter monitors and clinical severity measures to enhance personalized disease management strategies. Methods: In the MOMOPA-EC trial, 435 patient monitoring sessions were conducted, during which patients wore Parkinson’s Holter monitors for a week before completing clinical assessments, including the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FoG-Q). Results: The reports obtained during the monitoring of the patients were classified into three groups based on the greater or lesser gait fluidity (according to the measurements from the Parkinson’s Holter). All clinical scales were significantly different in each of these groups, indicating that patients with lower stride fluidity had poorer outcomes across the different clinical scales. Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the potential of Parkinson’s Holters in providing objective data for personalized disease management in PD patients. Integrating such technologies into routine clinical practice could enhance patient care and treatment strategies by offering clinicians objective insights into both disease progression and therapeutic response.