To characterize subgroups of persons with Parkinson’s disease (PWP) with similar longitudinal mobility impairment patterns based on an easy-to-use patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure.

Mobility impairments are common, complex symptoms experienced by PWP. The underlying mechanisms and accrual patterns are not well understood, which impedes therapeutic shared-decision making.

In the early and mid-disease duration strata, four clusters were identified, while a fifth cluster was identified in the later disease duration strata. The subgroup trajectories ranged from none to moderate mobility problems, with a smaller cluster of subjects with severe mobility problems. The percentage of subjects with moderate (early=17.5%, mid=26.4%, later=32.5%) and severe (early=3.8%, mid=7.4%, later=15.4%) mobility problems at baseline increased across disease duration groups. The trajectories tended to be variable or slightly worsening in the early and later duration group and more stable in the mid-duration group. Across strata, the clusters with moderate to severe mobility problems were associated with more severe impairment, depression, anxiety and arthritis, higher BMI, lower income, and lower education. There were no differences by race.

The approach described and applied to PWP provides a novel template for using a easy-to-use PRO to improve our understanding of mobility trajectories in Parkinson’s disease.