Factors affecting continuation rates of opicapone: A retrospective study at a single center in Japan

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors are used to alleviate motor fluctuations, such as wearing-off, in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Opicapone, a COMT inhibitor has long-lasting efficacy when administered once daily, but there is limited real-world clinical data in Japanese participants. This study aimed to evaluate the one-year continuation rate of opicapone in Japanese PwPD in real-world clinical practice and to identify factors influencing this continuation rate.

This retrospective study analyzed data from 58 Japanese PwPD treated with opicapone at the Department of Neurology, Fukuoka University Hospital. We compared patients who continued opicapone for one year with those who discontinued it and examined factors influencing the continuation rate.

Among the 58 PwPD, 26 (44.8%) continued opicapone for one year. Binomial logistic regression analysis identified male sex (odds ratio: 0.223, 95 % confidence interval: 0.056-0.878) and switching from entacapone (odds ratio: 0.215, 95 % confidence interval: 0.056-0.825) as significant factors influencing the one-year continuation rate.

Switching to opicapone in patients with suboptimal responses to entacapone may enhance the continuation rate.