Abstract

Vascular comorbidity is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The presence of vascular disease and vascular risks, and the implementation of vascular treatments, was assessed in the regional movement disorder clinic. ASSIGN (ASsessing cardiac risk using Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) was used to calculate 10-year cardiovascular risk in patients without a diagnostic indication for statin use.

Of 441 PD patients, 59.9% male, mean age 68.9 years (SD 10.3), 174 patients (39.5%) had a diagnostic indication for statin use; they were significantly older, more likely to have hypertension, and to be prescribed a statin and antiplatelet therapy compared to patients without a diagnostic indication (all P<0.0005). Of 213 cases (48.3%) eligible for ASSIGN risk calculation, 62 (29.1%) scored 20 or more (high risk), 89 (41.8%) scored between 11 and 19 (moderate risk), and 62 (29.1%) scored 10 or less (low risk). 78.2% of cases with a diagnostic indication for statins were prescribed statins, versus 24.1% of high risk patients, 19.1% of those with moderate risk, and 9.7% of patients with low risk.

PD patients with vascular risk were undertreated with statins, compared to those with established vascular disease. The reasons for this merit further study.