Chronic sialorrhea, and underdiagnosed and poorly understood condition marked by excessive drooling, often affects individuals with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and stroke. A recent study leverages real-world data to address knowledge gaps in sialorrhea’s prevalence, patient demographics, and treatment patterns, providing insights that could help improve diagnosis and care.
This study analyzed real-world data from Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, covering patient records from 1/1/2007 and 5/31/2022. The study involved two cohorts: patients with newly diagnosed sialorrhea who received related treatment, and patients beginning incobotulinumtoxinA therapy. Key patient characteristics—such as demographics, symptoms, and comorbidities—were described before and after diagnosis and treatment initiation.
The study found that most patients were 65 or older, male, and non-Hispanic white. Among adults, Parkinson’s disease was the most common comorbidity, while cerebral palsy was prevalent among pediatric patients. Treatment patterns revealed a preference for anticholinergic medications over botulinum toxin therapies. The findings in the study emphasize the need for further research into the efficacy, safety, and burden of sialorrhea treatments, aiming to inform and improve future care approaches.