[Accessibility to the specific pharmacotherapy for Parkinson disease, in Santiago de Chile].
BACKGROUND
The high costs of adequate pharmacological treatment for Parkinson disease preclude the universal access of patients to this medication.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the accessibility to pharmacological treatment of Chilean patients with Parkinson disease.


METHODS
An inquiry about socioeconomic stratification, medical controls, disease features and costs of pharmacological therapy, was applied to 95 patients (56 male, aged 32 to 89 years old) attending the Chilean League Against Parkinson Disease.


RESULTS
Among studied patients, the disease had a mean duration of 7.9 +/- 6 years. There was a direct relationship between family income, the frequency of visits to physicians and the dose and cost of pharmacological therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The accessibility to pharmacological therapy among patients with Parkinson disease, depends on their socioeconomic level. Measures to correct this situation and improve the quality of life of these patients should be undertaken by health services.
Chaná
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P
Liga Chilena Contra el Mal de Parkinson, Santiago de Chile. pchana@itn.cl.Santiago de Chile
Galdames
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000191:economics*; D002677:Chile; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents