Objective: Gender differences in several neurodegenerative disorders have been extensively investigated. Nowadays, evidence and interest about sex-related distinctions regarding Parkinson’s disease (PD) are increasing. The aim of our study was to identify the role of gender differences on surgical management of PD. with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS).

Background: There have been reported gender differences in the onset of clinical manifestations, type of motor and non-motor symptoms, drug treatment, neuropsychiatric and cognitive changes and quality of life. If is widely reported gender differences in epidemiological and clinical features of PD, it is not clear the sex impact on STN-DBS.

Method: We evaluated the gender impact on STN-DBS of 44 consecutive patients (26 male and 17 female) enrolled from 2011 to 2021, at department of Neurosurgery of University of Naples “Federico II”. All patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists who assessed the eligibility for surgery. Patients underwent to the bilateral implantation of a Deep Brain Stimulation system with a selective targeting of the Subthalamic Nucleus.
Demographic data are presented as numbers, mean ± SD, and range, and analyzed by Rstudio.

Results: There were 26 male (61%) and 17 (39%) female. Baseline evaluation revealed no gender differences in the age of onset (p=0,9). No significant differences were noted in the UPDRS pre-surgery score (p=0,16), but if we consider UPDRS subscores of motor examination, there are differences in ON and OFF phase (p=0,001*; p=0,03*). Men and women had clinical improvement with a significant difference between UPDRS pre-post op (men p=0,0003*; women p=0,0002*), with a significant gap between sex (p=0,02.*)

Conclusion: With the progression of the disease, women are at greater risk of developing highly disabling treatment-related complications, such as motor symptoms, but they have greater improvement after surgery than men. Improving our knowledge in this field can allow us to implement strategies to identify new directions in the development of an adequate treatment of PD in terms of surgical intervention also in consideration of the gender.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-gender-gap-in-parkinsons-disease-before-and-after-subthalamic-nucleus-deep-brain-stimulation-surgery-preliminary-results-of-a-retrospective-study/