Objective: to evaluate the real-life use of internet and technological devices in parkinsonian patients

Background: technology use is increasing in the ageing population but no large studies evaluated the access to internet and digital technology in parkinsonian patients.

Method: a real-life survey in a network of movement disorder outpatient clinics in Lombardy Region, Italy was conducted. Consecutive Parkinson’s disease (PD) or atypical parkinsonism patients were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire  evaluating the use of technology, internet and devices; the severity of the disease and  milestones of disability were evaluated in the cohort.

Results: Four hundred-fifty-four patients in 11 centres were included (mean age 70.5 + 9.7 years, mean dis duration 7.1 + 5.2 years), namely 411 PD (16.3% with dementia and 44% with motor fluctuations) and 43 atypical parkinsonism. 43% PD and 23.7% of atypical parkinsonism had access to email with a mean use of 6.4 hours per week. 75% of patients had smartphone 12% tablet and 14% computer with no difference between patients with and without motor fluctuations. OFF-line patients were  older and exhibited worse motor and non- motor symptoms compared to patients with internet access.

Conclusion: the survey highlighted an heterogeneous use of digital technology and internet in the population. The wide global internet access , prominent via smartphone highlight its potential for monitoring symptoms in clinical routine or in clinical trials. OFF-line patients have an increased risk of disability thus requiring specific interventions from clinicians and health care systems.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/technology-use-in-parkinsons-disease-and-parkinsonism-a-multicenter-survey-in-real-life-healthy-east-lombardy-parkinson-help-network/