Are Patients Ready for “EARLYSTIM”? Attitudes towards Deep Brain Stimulation among Female and Male Patients with Moderately Advanced Parkinson’s Disease
Table 1
Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 23 participants (10 women) with Parkinson’s disease.
Whole group
Men (%)
Women (%)
Number of Participants
23
13/(56.5)
10 (43.5)
Age
Mean ± SD (range)
Mean ± SD (range)
Mean ± SD (range)
Age at diagnosis
(40–63)
(41–63)
(40–61)
ns
Years since diagnosis
(1–19)
(3–17)
(1–19)
ns
Age at interview
(46–70)
(46–70)
(47–67)
ns
LEDD (mg)
(525–2322)
(525–2322)
(600–1310)
ns
Number of daily doses
(3–9)
(3–9)
(3–6)
0.045
Number (%) of patients who needed assistance in some daily activities
13 (56.5)
9 (69.2)
4 (40)
Civil status
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Cohabitant/single
19 (83)/4 (17)
11 (85)/2 (14)
8 (80)/2 (20)
Level of education
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Primary school
5 (21.7)
3 (23.1)
2 (20.0)
High school
7 (30.4)
4 (30.8)
3 (30.0)
University
11 (47.8)
6 (46.2)
5 (50.0)
Employment status at time of interview
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Working full time
1 (4.3)
1 (7.7)
0
Working part time & sick-leave part time
7 (30.4)
2 (15.4)
5 (50.0)
Sick-leave full time
8 (34.8)
4 (30.8)
4 (40.0)
Retired
7 (30.4)
6 (46.2)
1 (10.0)
Perceived general health at time of interview
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Excellent
1 (4.5)
0 (0.0)
1 (10.0)
Very good
5 (22.7)
3 (25.0)
2 (20.0)
Good
5 (22.7)
2 (16.7)
3 (30.0)
Fair
10 (45.5)
7 (58.3)
3 (30.0)
Bad
1 (4.5)
0 (0.0)
1 (10.0)
Overall impact of PD on life at time of interview
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Mild
1 (4.3)
1 (7.7)
0
Moderate
22 (95.7)
12 (92.3)
10 (100.0)
Severe
0
0
0
Number of members of PD society (%)
19 (82.6)
11 (84.6)
8 (80.0)
L-dopa = Levodopa. LEDD = Levodopa equivalent daily doses. Missing data in 4 (1 male) patients. Missing data in 2 female patients. Missing data in 1 male patient.
