title: Sex-Related Prognostic Predictors for Parkinson Disease Undergoing Subthalamic Stimulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A few reports have addressed the sex-related efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) to treat advanced Parkinson disease (PD). The present study evaluates the sex-related prognostic factors for STN-DBS outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two consecutive patients (48 men and 24 women) were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in the Unified PD Rating Scale scores were compared between men and women in the 6-month drug-off/DBS-on state relative to the preoperative drug-off baseline. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the preoperative factors predictive of motor improvements after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery, the male and female patient groups were comparable in clinical severity, except the women were associated with slightly inferior cognition (P < 0.05) and a relatively better response to levodopa (LD) (P < 0.05) than the men. Both sexes showed similar clinical improvements after STN-DBS therapy. In men, preoperative lower LD requirement and higher motor dysfunction, particularly tremor (adjusted R(2) = 0.613, P < 0.001), as well as greater improvement in tremor and rigidity after LD therapy (adjusted R(2) = 0.232, P = 0.001) were favorable predictors of surgical outcomes. Women achieved a significant improvement if they performed well in activities of daily living even with higher baseline motor scores (adjusted R(2) = 0.620, P < 0.001), or exhibited improvements in akinesia disability after preoperative LD therapy (adjusted R(2) = 0.305, P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STN-DBS therapy is equally beneficial for both sexes. Sex-related differences exist with regard to favorable prognostic predictors for early surgical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsmchiou@pchome.com.tw.
authors.forename: Shang-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa
keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Parkinson disease; Prognosis; Sex; Subthalamic nucleus