# Clinical characteristics of Parkinson’s disease in the outpatient clinic of a regional hospital in Peru

## TL;DR

This study describes the clinical features of Parkinson’s disease patients in a Peruvian regional hospital, focusing on motor and non-motor symptoms.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into PD characteristics and treatment patterns in a specific regional Peruvian population.

## Key findings

- The tremor-dominant motor phenotype was most common (73.3%).
- Anxiety and depression were highly prevalent non-motor symptoms.
- Over half of patients took 250–750 mg of levodopa daily, with 21% experiencing dyskinesias.

## Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. The clinical characteristics of adults with PD in a regional referral hospital in Arequipa were determined through a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted between June 2023 and January 2025. Sixty adults with PD were included (20 women), and the average age was 64.4 years. The most frequent motor phenotype was the tremor-dominant type (73.3%). All received tablets with 250 mg of levodopa and 25 mg of carbidopa. Half took between 250 and 750 mg of levodopa daily, and 21% presented with dyskinesias. The most frequent non-motor symptoms were anxiety (93.2%), depression (88.6%), and mild cognitive impairment (>60%). These findings highlight the opportunity to optimize the treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies focused on improving the quality of life of PD patients residing in the Arequipa region.

La Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) es el trastorno neurodegenerativo de más rápido crecimiento mundial. Se determinaron las características clínicas de adultos con EP en un hospital de referencia regional en Arequipa, mediante un estudio descriptivo y transversal realizado entre junio de 2023 y enero de 2025. Se incluyeron 60 adultos con EP (20 mujeres), la edad promedio fue de 64,4 años. El fenotipo motor más frecuente fue el tremolante (73,3%). Todos recibían tabletas con 250 mg de levodopa y 25 mg de carbidopa. La mitad tomaba entre 250 y 750 mg de levodopa al día y el 21% presentaba discinesias. Los síntomas no motores más frecuentes fueron la ansiedad (93,2%), la depresión (88,6%) y el deterioro cognitivo leve (>60%). Estos hallazgos resaltan la oportunidad de optimizar el tratamiento de síntomas motores y no motores con terapias farmacológicas y no farmacológicas enfocadas en mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes con EP residentes en la región Arequipa.