How much time is needed in clinical practice to reach a diagnosis of clinically established Parkinson's disease?

Abstract

Introduction: The implementation of accepted clinical diagnostic criteria has improved the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Time frames of 3-10 years have been empirically proposed to reach a diagnosis of clinically established PD.

Methods: We explored the time to a Final Clinical Diagnosis (FCD) and the factors that predict faster diagnoses in patients presenting with parkinsonism and/or tremor between 2009 and 2015 at our tertiary center. All patients underwent a standardized workout process to reach a FCD, which included an acute levodopa challenge (LDC) after the first visit.

Results: Among the 326 patients included, 215 (66%) received a FCD within the first six months after the LDC. A FCD was reached in 95% and 100% of patients in 33 and 108 months, respectively. PD was the FCD in 196 patients (60.1%). The FCD was reached faster in patients with a positive response to levodopa and when the FCD was PD.

Conclusion: The time needed to reach a final diagnosis in the clinical setting was 2.75 years in 95% of patients presenting initially with parkinsonism and/or tremor. Patients with positive responses to levodopa at the LDC, benefited from shorter delays until the FCD.