Evolution of Quality of Life in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that results in important functional symptoms, altered mood, and deterioration in quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to determine the evolution of the QoL in persons with PD in the Albacete health district over a two-year period and identify associated sociodemographic, clinical, and socio-health characteristics. A cohort study was conducted of patients at different stages of PD in the Albacete health district. Calculated sample size: 155 patients. Instruments: A purpose-designed questionnaire for data collection and the “Parkinson Disease Questionnaire” (PDQ-39), which measures 8 dimensions and a global index where a higher score indicates worse quality of life. Three measurements were made: baseline, one year, two years. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was conducted. Ethical aspects: informed consent, anonymized data. Results: Mean age 69.51 (standard deviation, SD 8.73) years, 60% male, 75.5% married, and 85.5% lived with family. The most frequent motor symptoms were slow movement (86.23%), postural instability (55.5%), tremor (45.5%), and dyskinesia (24.6%). Among the non-motor symptoms were fatigue (66.2%), pain, daytime somnolence, constipation, and apathy, with approximately 50% each. The mean QoL score at baseline was 27.47 (SD 16.14); 95% CI (confidence interval) 24.91–30.03. At two years, global QoL had slightly worsened (28.3; SD 17.26; 95% CI 25.41–31.18), with a statistically significant worsening in mobility, activities of daily living, and communication, whereas social support improved.

Relationship between Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

“…In our study, the mean number of MS that a patient had was 2.77, with the most frequent being slowness of movement, postural instability, and difficulty turning—those that cause a worse HRQoL in these patients. Nevertheless, tremor, which was significantly associated with HRQoL in studies by Hassan et al, 2012, and Martínez Fernández et al, 2016, was not significantly associated with a worse HRQoL in our results [ 20 , 23 ]. In our study, tremor came fourth in the list of MS that patients considered to affect their HRQoL.…”