Evaluation of Clinical Utility of the Personal KinetiGraph® in the Management of Parkinson Disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disorder characterized by complex motor and non-motor symptoms that can be difficult for patients to accurately communicate. Wearable technologies portend improvements in assessment and monitoring of these symptoms, with their clinical utility currently being evaluated in routine clinical care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical utility of the Personal KinetiGraph® (PKG®) Movement Recording System in the routine clinical care of persons with PD (PWP). METHODS: Clinically stable, non-demented PWP presented for two routine clinic visits that included: medication review, symptom review, neurological examination including the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) III/IV, and completion of a clinical management plan by a movement disorder specialist prior to review of the PKG report. After reviewing the PKG report, the clinician completed a modified clinical management plan taking into consideration the findings of the PKG. This was repeated at a second visit to evaluate various outcome measures following PKG-enhanced management. RESULTS: The PKG improved the assessment of PD symptoms and the response to treatment, while increasing patient activity levels and compliance. Clinical management plans enhanced by PKG led to different recommendations in 29.4% of cases compared with standard of care due to higher rates of bradykinesia, dyskinesia, tremor, and fluctuations identified by PKG. Using the PKG in the clinical management plan led to a change in medications in 75% (21/28) of patients and both a statistically significant difference and a clinically meaningful reduction in MDS-UPDRS III score of 4.8 (p = 0.028). Additionally, positive changes in both the clinician (17/28; 61%) and patient-reported (13/24; 54%) Global Impression of Improvement were reported. CONCLUSION: The PKG is a valuable tool in augmenting clinical management when utilized along with a clinical assessment.