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Introduction: Although continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI) is an effective therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) with motor fluctuations, data from Asian cohorts is limited. The therapy is often discontinued due to the complexity of its delivery., Methods: Fifty-one PD patients undergoing CSAI as an add-on therapy were enrolled in the Thai Apomorphine Registry, an electronic database that recorded clinical characteristics and parameters during the 14-consecutive-day titration and long-term follow-up. Factors at the time of titration were documented in order to identify predictors of long-term discontinuation., Results: Following initiation, PD patients were administered a mean CSAI dose of 5.89 mg/h (SD 1.36) over a mean time of 12.28 h (SD 1.90) each day. The mean follow-up period was 626.2 days (SD 619.17). Significant reductions in UPDRS-I, II, III, and IV scores, total NMSQ score, PDQ-8 score, daily off and dyskinesia hours, Timed Up and Go test, walking step test, levodopa-equivalent daily dose, number of times a day the levodopa was taken versus pre-CSAI values were observed (p < 0.05, each). Thirty-five (68.6%) patients discontinued during the follow-up period. Relative risks of variables recorded at the time of titration that determined discontinuation of CSAI therapy were an absence of full-time caregivers, achieving a daily off hours reduction <3.5 h, and NMSQ scores at the time of CSAI titration ≥9.5 points., Conclusion: Identifying factors that predict discontinuation of CSAI at the time of its initiation may help physicians to better understand the patient's drug response and how to manage them long-term., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The increasing global burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) poses a particular challenge for developing countries, such as Thailand, when delivering care to a geographically diverse populace with limited resources, often compounded by a lack of expertise in the use of certain PD medications, such as device-aided therapies (DAT)., Areas Covered: A panel of local, regional, and international PD experts convened to review the unmet needs of PD in Thailand and share insights into effective delivery of DAT, focusing on experience with apomorphine infusion. Despite its proven efficacy and safety, implementation of apomorphine infusion as a new option was not straightforward. This has prompted a range of health-care professional and patient-focused initiatives, led by the Chulalongkorn Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders in Bangkok, to help establish a more coordinated approach to PD management throughout the country and ensure patients have access to suitable treatments., Expert Opinion: Overcoming the challenges of education, proficiency, resource capacity and standard of care for PD patients in developing countries requires a coordinated effort both nationally and beyond. The best practices identified in Thailand following the introduction of apomorphine infusion might be helpful for other countries when implementing similar programs.