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• Up to 40% of people with Parkinson’s in parts of Europe see a neurologist or Parkinson’s disease Nurse Specialist no more than once a year, according to a global EPDA survey¹.
  
  
• Just2% of 674 survey respondents said they had received information about advanced Parkinson’s from their neurologist or another healthcare professional.
  
  
• EPDA Research Manager Amelia Hursey: “The results of the survey show that people with Parkinson’s are most satisfied with their treatment if they feel that they have received satisfactory input from their healthcare professional”.

Vienna, 25 June 2022 – Many Parkinson’s patients across Europe are missing out on regular specialist advice on treating their condition, according to the findings of a survey conducted by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA)¹.

39% of the people with Parkinson’s who responded to the survey in Central and Eastern Europe said they see a neurologist or Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist no more than once per year, with barely 1 in 10 (12.4%) getting specialist advice at least four times per year.¹  In Western Europe, 1 in 4 (23.92%) benefitted from a consultation at best once per year.¹ The picture in Southern Europe shows 16.47% having a consultation 0-1 times during a 12-month period, and a clear majority in this region consulting a specialist between 2 - 4 times per year.^[1]

For the EPDA, the results of the online survey in which 674 people participated are a cause for concern, because the survey also shows a clear link between input from healthcare professionals and patients’ satisfaction with their treatment regimen.

“The results of the survey show that people with Parkinson’s are most satisfied with their treatment if they feel that they have received satisfactory input from their healthcare professional,” commented EPDA Research Manager Amelia Hursey.

Key findings of the survey – which were supported by and developed in partnership with Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, part of the STADA Group – are being presented as a virtual poster during the 8^th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) held on 25-28 June 2022 in Vienna, Austria.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition, where symptoms develop over time, resulting in what can be considered as Advanced Parkinson’s Disease.² A mere 6.2% of respondents said they had received information about Advanced Parkinson’s from their neurologist or another healthcare professional.¹

Of the total 674 patients who completed the survey – which was published on the EPDA’s website in English, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovenian and Spanish – 61.8% were taking oral medication up to 5 times per day. Furthermore, 14.1% of all respondents were receiving device-aided treatment. Overall, patients receiving device-aided treatment registered slightly higher rates of satisfaction with their treatment than those being treated with oral therapies.¹

Two-thirds of PD patients taking oral medications reported problems with their treatment regimens, especially variations in medication effect.¹ Indeed, 69.1% of these patients said these variations in therapeutic effect were regularly or often due to the effect wearing off before the next dose was taken.¹

“We are pleased to have partnered with EPDA to have identified these opportunities to improve the treatment, and thus the lives, of people living with Parkinson’s,” stated Robert Wood, Managing Director of Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. “Availability of appropriate expert advice from qualified professionals is essential for PD patients, especially those with advanced stages of the disease, in ensuring that they have access to effective and tailored therapies,” he urged.

References:

1. Data presented as a virtual poster at the 8th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, 25th–28th June 2022, Vienna, Austria, poster EPV-538.
2. Antonini A, et al. Curr Med Res Opin. 2018;34(12):2063-2073.

About EPDA
The European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) is the only European Parkinson's umbrella organisation. The EPDA has been championing and working with the global Parkinson’s community for nearly 30 years. As the leading voice for Parkinson’s in Europe, EPDA provides information and resources to all Parkinson’s stakeholders, raises awareness of the conditions complexities and impact, and advocates for concrete policy change that benefits the Parkinson’s community. The association’s vision is to enable all people with Parkinson's to live a full life, while supporting the search for a cure.

About Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Britannia is a UK-based speciality pharmaceutical company operating in over 30 countries and is part of the STADA Arzneimittel AG group. Britannia was acquired by STADA in 2007, and has since become a global speciality pharmaceutical centre of excellence. Britannia continues to develop pioneering treatments and innovate drug delivery methods for Parkinson’s and other central nervous system disorders and leads the way in innovative technology and patient support.

About STADA Arzneimittel AG
STADA Arzneimittel AG is headquartered in Bad Vilbel, Germany. The company focuses on a three-pillar strategy consisting of generics, specialty pharma and consumer healthcare products. Worldwide, STADA Arzneimittel AG sells its products in approximately 120 countries. In financial year 2021, STADA achieved group sales of EUR 3,249.5 million and reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of EUR 776.5 million. As of 31 December 2021, STADA employed 12,520 people worldwide.

For all EPDA press enquiries, please contact Dominic Graham:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)7928 051719

STADA information for journalists:
STADA Arzneimittel AG - Media Relations
Stadastrasse 2-18
61118 Bad Vilbel - Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 6101 603-165
Fax: +49 (0) 6101 603-215
E-Mail: [email protected]

STADA information for capital market participants:
STADA Arzneimittel AG - Investor & Creditor Relations
Stadastrasse 2-18
61118 Bad Vilbel – Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 6101 603-4689
Fax: +49 (0) 6101 603-215
E-mail: [email protected]

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