Tolerability of non-ergot oral and transdermal dopamine agonists in younger and older Parkinson’s disease patients: an European multicentre survey

In older patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the use of dopamine agonists (DA) has been limited due to uncertainties related to their tolerability in spite of potential gains with the advent of longer acting or transdermal therapies. Comparative real-life data addressing the tolerability of DA therapy across age ranges are currently sparse. This study addressed the tolerability (Shulman criteria, continued intake of DA therapy for at least 6 months) in PD patients across several European centres treated with long-acting and transdermal DA (Rotigotine skin patch, Ropinirole extended release, or Pramipexole prolonged release) as part of routine clinical care in younger and older PD patients. A medical record-based retrospective data capture and clinical interview-based follow-up survey of patients initiating or initiated on DA treatment (short and long acting) in a real-life setting. 425 cases were included [mean age 68.3 years (range 37–90), mean duration of disease 7.5 years (range 0–37), 31.5% older age (≥ 75 years of age)]. Tolerability was above 90% irrespective of age, with no significant differences between younger and older patients. Based on our findings, we suggest that long-acting/transdermal DA are tolerated in non-demented older patients, as well as in younger patients, however, with lower daily dose in older patients.