Objective: In this study we explored the cause of hospitalization, clinical course and outcome among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients.

Background: Patients with PD are frequently hospitalized due to various symptoms related to PD and due to co-morbid conditions. The management of PD tends to focus on recovery of presenting motor symptoms. Non motor symptoms of the illness, infection, metabolic dysfunctions, falls, injuries and other non-related conditions become increasingly burdensome and lead to morbidity and hospital admissions.

Methods: In this study we studied patients of PD admitted in a tertiary care neurological referral center in India. We conducted thorough interview as well as clinical and neuro-psychiatric evaluation at the time of their admission, during hospitalization and at the time of discharge. Various scales like UPDRS, MMSE, non motor symptoms questionnaire (NMSQ), confusion assessment method (CAM) were used for evaluation. The details of the investigation were also recorded.

Results: 29 consecutive PD patients (mean age 65.9 years, 75.9% male) were studied. Mean age of the disease onset was 60 years, average duration of disease onset was 6.2 years and mean H&Y scaling score was 4 at the time of admission. The mean duration of admission was 10 days. 13 (44.82%) patients were hypertensive, 11 were diabetic (37.82%) and 14 (48.3%) patients had psychiatric co-morbidity. 10 (35%) patients were admitted due to deterioration of motor symptoms and 7 (24%) patients were admitted due to non-motor PD symptoms. The primary causes of admission were urosepsis in 6 (17%) and pneumonia in 5 (17%) patients. 16 (55.2%) PD patients were admitted with acute delirium. 11 (38%) patients were discharged with resolution or satisfactory improvement of primary cause of hospitalization whereas initial reasons for admission were partially resolved in 17 (59%) patients. In 1 patient the condition did not improve despite treatment.

Conclusions: Infection and recent deterioration in non-motor and motor symptoms were the key reasons for admission in PD patients. Prevention of infection, optimum use of levodopa and judicious use of various other medications may help in reducing the admission rate in PD.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-profile-and-outcome-of-hospitalized-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/