Table 1 Demographic characteristics, social support, PD clinical characteristics, and referral status of the Italian APD and non-APD patients according to physician judgment

Demographic characteristics and social support

APD

(N = 60)

Non APD

(N = 80)

Age, mean ± SD (Range)

67.2 ± 9.5 (37–88)

63.0 ± 11.1 (42–90)

Male; N (%)

35 (58.3%)

48 (60%)

Female; N (%)

25 (41.7%)

32 (40%)

Living at home; N (%)

60 (100%)

80 (100%)

Retired from work; N (%)

44 (73.3%)

34 (42.5%)

Required caregiver support; N (%)

45 (75%)

11 (13.8%)

Caregiver Type; N (%)

N = 45

N = 11

-Partner/Spouse

-Family member/friends

-Professional assistance

27 (60%)

17 (37.8%)

11 (24.4%)

7 (63.6%)

4 (36.4%)

1 (9.1%)

PD characteristics

-Time since PD diagnosis (years); mean ± SD; (Range)

-Presence of motor fluctuations; N (%)

-Duration of motor fluctuations (years); mean ± SD; (Range)

13.2 ± 6.1 (3–33.2)

56 (93.3%)

6.2 ± 4.7 (1–20) N = 55

4.4 ± 3.6 (0.3)

9 (11.3%)

1.1 ± 0.6 (0.2–2) N = 9

Severity of Cognitive dysfunction; N (%)

 Mild

 Moderate

 Severe Dementia

25 (75.8%)

7 (21.2%)

1 (3%)

13 (81.3%)

3 (18.8%)

0

Referral to MD Center; N (%)

49 (82%)

53 (66%)

Referring Clinician; N (%)

N = 49

N = 53

-General Practitioner

-Neurologist

-Geriatrician

-Other

19 (39%)

21 (43%)

1 (2%)

8 (16%)

19 (36%)

18 (34%)

2 (4%)

14 (26%)

Reason for referral (Possible multiple answer); N (%)

N = 49

N = 53

-PD progression

-To allow access to DAT

-Uncontrolled symptoms

-For diagnostic purposes

-Other

19 (39%)

16 (33%)

0

13 (27%)

3 (6%)

7 (13%)

0

4 (8%)

37 (70%)

5 (9%)

Time since referral (years); mean ± SD

(Range)

6.0 ± 5.1

(0–24.9)

3.3 ± 3.7

(0.1–15.4)