Effect of Safinamide on Non-Motor Symptoms and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease Patients According to Sex, Age, Disease Duration and Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dose

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Background: and objective: Safinamide improved non-motor symptoms (NMS) and quality of life (QoL) in 50 PD patients who participated in the SAFINOMOTOR study. In this post hoc analysis we analyzed the effect of safinamide on NMS and QoL according to sex, age, disease duration (DD) and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD). Patients and Methods: The change from baseline to the end of the observational period (6 months) in the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) and the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39) was analyzed in subgroups according to sex (male vs. female), age (> 75 vs. ≤ 75 years old), DD (> 10 years vs. ≤ 10 years) and LEDD (> 1000 vs. ≤ 1000 mg). Nonparametric tests and general linear model (GLM) repeated measures were applied. Results: Forty-four PD patients completed the V6M visit and were valid for the analysis. A significant reduction in the NMSS was observed in all groups. Regarding QoL, a significant reduction in the PDQ-39 was observed in females (p< 0.0001) and in patients with a DD > 10 years (p=0.011) but not in males or those > 75 years old or receiving a LEDD > 1.000 mg. In the GLM, only LEDD at baseline influenced the degree of change in the NMSS total score (p=0.026; F=5.23). The decrease in the NMSS total scale was 43.8% for the group with a LEDD > 1.000 mg/day vs 33.7% for those ≤ 1.000 mg. None of the variables influenced the change in the PDQ39. Conclusion: Safinamide improved NMS independently of sex, age, DD and LEDD.

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