Apathy and associated factors in Mexican patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Apathy is one of the most common behavioral disturbances in Parkinson's disease (PD) with a reported prevalence of 17-51 %. Apathy has been associated with depression, cognitive deficits, and poor quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of apathy in Mexican subjects with PD and its correlation with clinical and demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytic study was carried out. Consecutive subjects with PD attending the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City were included. Demographic and other relevant clinical data were collected. The Apathy Scale was applied to all subjects. A cut-off score of ≥ 14 was used. A total of 241 non-demented patients (52.7 % male) were included. Apathy was found in 43 % of subjects. Lower body mass index, older age of PD onset, cognitive decline and disease severity were all related to apathy. The use of dopamine agonists or rasagiline was more common in patients with low apathy scores. Our results show that the prevalence of apathy in Mexican subjects with PD is similar to other reports.

Apathy in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The difference was no longer significant in consecutive‐exclusion analysis, although only one study did not report a higher mean score in patients with apathy (Supplemental Data s‐6) . In the two studies that employed the MDS‐UPDRS, patients with apathy on average scored 7.7 points higher (95% CI = 3.6‐11.8, I 2 = 35%) …”

“…Male sex was associated with apathy in 2 of 12 cohorts reporting on the subject . Separate meta‐analysis on the association between apathy and sex was possible based on 10 cohorts . No association with sex was found (Fig.…”

“…Four studies reported that higher levodopa ( l ‐dopa) equivalent dosage (LED), particularly of dopamine agonists, was associated with lower apathy scores in regression analysis . In contrast, l ‐dopa use was significantly higher in patients with apathy compared with those without in two studies, and higher l ‐dopa dosage was associated worse apathy scores in another …”

“…Apathy was associated with lower MMSE scores in 7 of 10 cohorts reporting on the subject, and with a worse Montreal Cognitive Assessment score in another . Separate meta‐analysis regarding MMSE score was possible based on nine cohorts .…”

“…Higher UPDRS motor scores were associated with apathy in 8 of 11 cohorts reporting on the subject . Eight cohorts could be used for meta‐analysis .…”