Gender Difference in Outcome of Subthalamic Nucleus-deep Brain Stimulation in Japan

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Parkinson's disease prevalence shows a gender difference, with men predominantly affected in Western countries, but a contrasting trend observed in Asia, particularly Japan.
• The differing prevalence patterns raise questions about potential gender-based variations in treatment outcomes, specifically for subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and clarify the gender differences in the outcomes of subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease patients in Japan.
• To analyze short-term and long-term outcomes based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and improvement rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 57 Parkinson's disease patients who underwent subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation.
• Assessment of gender differences in UPDRS total and part III scores, and their improvement rates during off-periods at 1 month (short-term) and 5 years (long-term) post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant gender differences were observed in the short-term postoperative period.
• Women demonstrated higher improvement rates in UPDRS total and part III scores during the off-period at 1 month compared to men.
• No significant gender difference in outcomes was found in the long-term (5-year) follow-up.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to examine gender differences in STN-DBS outcomes for Parkinson's disease in Japan.
• Short-term results indicate a potential gender-specific benefit of STN-DBS, with women showing greater initial improvement.
• The long-term efficacy of STN-DBS appears comparable between genders, suggesting the initial differences may not persist.