The PRIAMO study: age- and sex-related relationship between prodromal constipation and disease phenotype in early Parkinson’s disease

Objectives: To explore the impact of sex and age on relationship between prodromal constipation and disease phenotype in Parkinson’s disease at early stages. Methods: A total of 385 Parkinson’s disease patients from the PRIAMO study were classified according to the presence of prodromal constipation and followed for 24 months. Multivariable mixed-effect models were applied. All analyses were performed separately for sex (64.1% men) and median age (different by sex: 67 years-old in men and 68 years-old in women). Results: As for sex, prodromal constipation was associated with greater odds of attention/memory complaints and apathy symptoms in women only. As for age, prodromal constipation was associated with lower cognitive and higher apathy scores in older patients only. Conclusions: Prodromal constipation anticipates lower cognitive performances and more severe apathy since the earliest stages in women and older patients. Sex- and age-related heterogeneity of prodromal markers of Parkinson’s disease may impact disease phenotype.