Sex Differences in Natural History and Health Outcomes among Individuals with Tic Disorders

Abstract

ObjectivesTo analyze sex differences in outcomes in Tourette syndrome (TS) and Persistent Motor or Vocal tic disorders (PMVT) in the Tourette Association of America International Consortium for Genetics (TAAICG) dataset.MethodsThe relationship between sex and clinical measures was explored in 2,403 participants (N = 2,109 with TS; N = 294 with PMVT) from the TAAICG dataset using generalized estimating equation regression models, and adjusted for age and family relationships.ResultsFemale (vs male) participants with TS (25.5% of the sample) had 0.46 times lower odds of being formally diagnosed clinically with TS before the research study (p < 0.00001), later age at symptom onset (6.5 ± 2.8 vs 6.0 ± 2.7; p = 0.001), later age at diagnosis (13.3 ± 11.2 vs 10.7 ± 8.1; p = 0.0001), a longer time-to-diagnosis (3 [1, 7] vs 2 [1, 5], p = 0.01), and lower tic severity (28.4 ± 9.1 vs 30.7 ± 8.7); p < 0.0001). Female (vs male) participants with PMVT (42.9% of the sample) had an earlier age at symptom onset (7.9 ± 3.3 vs 8.9 ± 3.7; p = 0.05).DiscussionFemale (vs male) participants with TS are less likely to be formally diagnosed, have later age at symptom onset, later age at diagnosis, and longer time-to-diagnosis. Female (vs male) participants with PMVT have an earlier age at symptom onset. Future research is needed to understand differences longitudinally in TS and PMVT.