The Prevalence of Hospitalized Parkinson's Disease Patients in All Case Hospitalization among Different Race/Ethnic Subgroups in Hawai'i.

Background: Little is known about the epidemiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients in Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) and Asian American (AA) subgroups. Objective: To determine if the prevalence of hospitalized PD patients is different across age groups and racial/ethnic subgroups in Hawai'i. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Hawai'i statewide registry (2016-2020) hospitalization data for patients who were 50 years or older. PD patients were identified using an ICD 10 code: Parkinson's Disease (G20) as their primary/secondary hospitalization discharge diagnosis code. Demographic and clinical characteristics among racial/ethnic subgroups (White, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, NHPI, or Other) were compared. Results: Of 146,844 total hospitalized patients (n = 429,879 records), 1.6% (n = 2,401) had a PD diagnosis. The prevalence of hospitalized PD patients was 2.3% among Japanese and Chinese, followed by 1.7% for Whites, 1.2% for Filipinos and was lowest for NHPI with 0.9% (p <  0.001). As patient's age increased, the prevalence of hospitalized PD patients increased, with 80-84 years old for the highest age range (3.4%). The prevalence of hospitalized PD patients at 80-84 years old varied across the race/ethnic subgroups (Chinese 4.3%, Japanese 4.0%, Whites 3.7%, Filipinos 2.5%, NHPI 2.3%). Conclusions: The prevalence of hospitalized PD patients among all case hospitalizations were lower for NHPI and Filipino compared to that of Japanese, Chinese, and Whites. As patients' age increased, the prevalence of hospitalized patients with PD increased, but less so in NHPI and Filipino groups. Further research is warranted to understand the reason for these observed differences among racial/ethnic subgroups.

Racial disparities in hospitalization characteristics among Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Asian American subgroups with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Differences among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHPI) and Asian American (AA) subgroups have not been adequately studied in Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in demographics, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization among NHPI, AA subgroups, and White hospitalized PD patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Hawai'is statewide registry (2016-2020). Patients with PD were identified using ICD10 code G20 and categorized as White, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, NHPI, or Other. Variables collected included: age, sex, residence (county), primary source of payment, discharge status, length of stay, in-hospital expiration, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) utilization. Bivariate analyses were performed: differences in age and CCI were further examined by multivariable linear regression and proportional odds models. RESULTS: Of 229,238 hospitalizations, 2428 had PD (Japanese: 31.3 %, White: 30.4 %, Filipino: 11.3 %, NHPI: 9.6 %, Chinese: 8.0 %). NHPI were younger compared to rest of the subgroups [estimate in years (95 % CI): Whites: 4.4 (3.0-5.8), Filipinos: 4.3 (2.7-5.9), Japanese: 7.7 (6.4-9.1), Chinese: 7.9 (6.1-9.7), p < 0.001)]. NHPI had a higher CCI compared to White, Japanese, and Chinese (p < 0.001). Among AA subgroups, Filipinos were younger and had a higher CCI compared to Japanese and Chinese (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in DBS utilization among subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: NHPI and Filipinos with PD were hospitalized at a younger age and had a greater comorbidity burden compared to other AAs and Whites. Further research, ideally prospective studies, are needed to understand these racial disparities.

Differences Among Native Hawaiian, Asian, and White Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Most studies of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) have been conducted in White populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify whether differences exist for patients with PSP among Whites, East Asians (EAs), and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in Hawaii. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of patients meeting Movement Disorder Society probable PSP criteria (2006-2021). Data variables included age of onset and diagnosis, comorbidities, and survival rate. Variables were compared across groups using Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, and log-rank tests. RESULTS: A total of 94 (59 EAs, 9 NHPIs, 16 Whites, and 10 Others) patients were identified. Mean age ± standard deviation (in years) of symptom onset/diagnosis were both youngest in NHPIs (64.0 ± 7.2/66.3 ± 8.0) followed by Whites (70.8 ± 7.6/73.9 ± 7.8), then EAs (75.9 ± 8.2/79.2 ± 8.3) (P < 0.001). Median survival from diagnosis was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in NHPIs (2 years) compared with EAs (4 years) and Whites (6 years). CONCLUSIONS: There may be racial disparities for PSP, and studies are needed to identify genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic contributions. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Utilization and gender disparities of Deep Brain Stimulation surgery amongst Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders with Parkinson's disease in Hawai`i.

INTRODUCTION: Despite its efficacy in Parkinson's disease (PD) management, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is underutilized in sociodemographic minorities. Previous investigations of racial disparities in PD aggregated Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations into a single category; however, these groups have significant health differences. We sought to characterize the PD population in Hawai`i and the use of DBS among AA subgroups and NHPI patients to elucidate potential sociodemographic and clinical disparities. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of PD patients who received DBS from 2002 to 2021 was conducted at The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu, Hawai`i. Hawai`i PD admissions from 2016 to 2020 were collected from Laulima Data Alliance database. We compared the characteristics of DBS patients, total PD admissions, and Hawai`i census data. Alpha level of < 0.05 determined statistical significance. We did a subgroup analysis of white, AA and NHPI subgroups within the patients who underwent DBS. RESULTS: Analysis included 4215 PD admissions and 74 DBS surgeries. Compared to census data, Whites (OR: 1.67; p < 0.0001) and AA (OR: 1.18; p < 0.0001) were overrepresented in total PD admissions; whereas NHPI (OR: 0.64; p < 0.0001) and Blacks (OR: 0.17; p < 0.0001) were underrepresented. Overall, males received DBS more than females. All NHPI patients who received DBS were male, despite 37.65 % of total NHPI PD admissions being female (p = 0.0049). Most DBS patients were AA (45.95 %), followed by Whites (43.24 %), and NHPI (10.81 %). CONCLUSIONS: NHPI and Black PD patients were disproportionately underrepresented in the Hawai`i PD population. All NHPI receiving DBS were male. These racial and gender disparities must be explored in future studies to achieve health equity and improved quality of care in a culturally sensitive manner.

Difference in rural and urban Medicare prescription pattern for Parkinson's disease in Hawai'i.

Background: Medical management of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is becoming complex. Increasing evidence suggests that patients have better outcomes when they are managed by neurologists. However, access to neurologists can be limited in rural areas. Analysis of prescription pattern can provide insight into access gap rural patients face. Methods: This retrospective observational study used National Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Part D Prescriber Public Use Files from 2013 to 2018. Query was made for levodopa, dopamine agonists and other antiparkinsonian medications. The data elements obtained included drug name, number of prescribers, prescriber specialty, number of claims, number of standardized 30-day Part D prescriptions, and number of Medicare beneficiaries in the state of Hawai'i. Individual prescribing providers were categorized as urban or rural based on their cities of practice. Prescription patterns of urban and rural providers in Hawai'i as well as difference in provider specialty were compared, using standardized 30-day prescriptions as the primary measure of utilization. Results: Practice patterns differed between rural and urban areas. In rural Hawai'i, Rytary, Rotigoitne and selegiline were rarely prescribed. Levodopa percentage was higher in urban Hawai'i. In urban Hawai'i, 74.4% of the prescriptions were provided by movement disorders and general neurologists. In rural Hawai'i, 25.1% of the prescriptions were written by neurologists and 74.9% by general practitioners. Conclusions: In the state of Hawai'i, there is an urban-rural access gap to neurologists as evidenced by Medicare prescription pattern. Further study is needed to understand the reasons for rural-urban differences in prescription patterns and their impact on outcomes.

Treatment of Post-Hypoxic Myoclonus using Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation Placed Using Interventional MRI Methods.

Background: Post-hypoxic myoclonus (PHM) is characterized by generalized myoclonus after hypoxic brain injury. Myoclonus is often functionally impairing and refractory to medical therapies. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used to treat myoclonus-dystonia, but few cases of PHM have been described. Case report: A 33-year-old woman developed severe, refractory generalized myoclonus after cardiopulmonary arrest from drowning. We performed MRI-guided asleep bilateral pallidal DBS placement, resulting in improvement in action myoclonus at one year. Discussion: Our case contributes to growing evidence for DBS for PHM. Interventional MRI guided DBS technique can be used for safe and accurate lead placement. Highlights: We report a case of a patient who developed post-hypoxic myoclonus after cardiopulmonary arrest from drowning, who later underwent deep brain stimulation to treat refractory myoclonus. This is the first case to describe asleep, interventional MRI-guided technique for implanting DBS leads in post-hypoxic myoclonus.

Translational methods to detect asymmetries in temporal and spatial walking metrics in parkinsonian mouse models and human subjects with Parkinson's disease.

Clinical signs in Parkinson's disease (PD), including parkinsonian gait, are often asymmetric, but mechanisms underlying gait asymmetries in PD remain poorly understood. A translational toolkit, a set of standardized measures to capture gait asymmetries in relevant mouse models and patients, would greatly facilitate research efforts. We validated approaches to quantify asymmetries in placement and timing of limbs in mouse models of parkinsonism and human PD subjects at speeds that are relevant for human walking. In mice, we applied regression analysis to compare left and right gait metrics within a condition. To compare alternation ratios of left and right limbs before and after induction of parkinsonism, we used circular statistics. Both approaches revealed asymmetries in hind- and forelimb step length in a unilateral PD model, but not in bilateral or control models. In human subjects, a similar regression approach showed a step length asymmetry in the PD but not control group. Sub-analysis of cohorts with predominant postural instability-gait impairment and with predominant tremor revealed asymmetries for step length in both cohorts and for swing time only in the former cohort. This translational approach captures asymmetries of gait in mice and patients. Application revealed striking differences between models, and that spatial and temporal asymmetries may occur independently. This approach will be useful to investigate circuit mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity between models.