Objective: To find the most significant factors on the quality of life and its changes in a large sample of people with Parkinson.

Background: The quality of life among people with Parkinson’s disease is impaired compared with age-matched controls. Besides the severity of the symptoms also other things can be important.

Methods: During a period of three years, all applicants (N=1535) for Parkinson rehabilitation courses in Finland were sent a questionnaire to fill in and return. 1007 patients agreed to participate in the study. Demographic factors, many measures of the severity of PD, medication for PD and other diseases, significant life events during last 6 months and the quality of life (PDQ39) were included. A repeat questionnaire was sent after six months to those who completed the first one and 850 were returned and 621 (55% male and 45% female) had data on PDQ39 to be compared. The mean age was 65.2 yrs (range 34.9 to 87.7), the median time from diagnosis was 3.3 yrs (range <1 month to 24.7 yrs), only 9% was employed.

Results: The mean (SD) baseline dimension sum score in PDQ39 was 29.2 (15.7) and after follow-up 29.6 (15.8). The mean (SD) change was only 0.4 (9.2) points, but the range was -52.6 to + 53.3. The factors associated with improvement (A) or impairment (B) at least 10 points from the total of 100 in the dimension sum score in PDQ39 were analyzed. Significant differences between the groups A (N=59) and B (N=68) were found in the initial PDQ39 dimension sum score (mean 41.1 vs. 22.1), the sum in UPDRS II (Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale part II) (mean 15.1 vs 11.6), GDS (Geriatric depression scale) (mean 6.7 vs. 4.1) and the number of other medicated disorders (mean 3.4 vs. 2.6). Age and the duration of the disease were not significantly different between groups. Changes during follow-up, which differed the improved (A) from the impaired (B) group were found in UPDRS II sum (-2.7 vs. +3.5, p<0.0001), GDS sum -1.9 vs. +1.3, p=0.0002) and self-estimated disability (1-5) (-0.43 vs. +0.25, p=0.0010).

Conclusions: The quality of life among PD patients remained stable in 80% of participants during six months’ follow-up. Impaired function in activities of daily life assessed by increased UPDRS II sum or self-estimated disability and increased depressive symptoms could lead to impairment in the quality of life or vice versa.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-quality-of-life-in-parkinsons-disease-a-follow-up-study-among-621-finnish-people-with-parkinson/