Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Parkinson’s Disease: a Single-Centered Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: The public health measure restrictions across the world due to COVID-19 have inadvertently impacted the routines for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their care partners not only in terms of compromised neurological clinical care but also drastically changing the way of life to minimize the risk of becoming infected. This study explores initial PD patients’ lived experiences to observe how quality of life and health care has been affected at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide insight into the importance of patient engagement and virtual care. Methods: Twenty-two virtual, in-depth semi-structured interviews with persons diagnosed with PD who usually attend a Movement Disorders specialty clinic in Calgary, Alberta, were completed between April 28 and May 13, 2020, and the care partners that wished to participate. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, after which transcripts were analyzed and coded into relevant themes using NVivo 12. Results: Impacts from the public health measures and COVID-19 results into three main themes: (1) Impacts of COVID-19 on PD Clinical Care; (2) Activities of Daily Living; (3) Attitudes and Perceptions. Participants reported worsening in motor and nonmotor symptoms and had to accommodate to clinical care via virtual means which were associated with limitations and suggestions for improvement of remote care. Conclusion: This study provides a unique opportunity for researchers to better understand the lived experiences of PD patients in all aspects of their life suggesting that innovative means are needed for facilitating virtual health care medicine and increased social interaction.

Moving Forward from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Needed Changes in Movement Disorders Care and Research

“…These disruptions extended to rehabilitative therapies; in one survey-based study, 60% of individuals with PD lost their access to rehabilitative care [12]. In a qualitative study, many individuals with PD reported feeling alone and unsupported during the pandemic due to limited communication with their providers [24]. Access to treatment was not uniformly disrupted.…”

Can SARS-CoV-2 Infection Lead to Neurodegeneration and Parkinson’s Disease?

“…However, subjective worsening of motor and non-motor symptoms of uninfected PD patients during the time of the pandemic was also recorded in different studies [ 143 , 144 ]. New behavioral symptoms were observed in 26% of PD patients in an Italian cross-sectional study [ 144 ].…”

“…New behavioral symptoms were observed in 26% of PD patients in an Italian cross-sectional study [ 144 ]. PD patients reported feeling lonely and deprived of the support and communication with their physician [ 143 ].…”

Managing Parkinson’s during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Perspectives from people living with Parkinson’s and health professionals

“…During the global COVID‐19 pandemic, many governments gradually introduced national and local restrictions that impacted people's activities, health and well‐being. As a susceptible clinical group (Antonini et al, 2022 , 2020 ; Elbeddini et al, 2020 ), PwPD had to modify their care routines and the healthcare systems underwent changes in the ways clinicians and PwPD interacted in response to restrictions of the COVID‐19 pandemic (Thomas et al, 2020 , 2020 ). This meant that services that support Parkinson's care management had to cease or be delivered remotely.…”