Non-motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study in a teaching hospital in Jordan

Abstract

Abstract Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common degenerative movement disorder. It is featured by motor manifestations and up till now the clinical diagnosis is based on them. Since the progress in the symptomatic treatment of PD and the longer survival of patients, non-motor manifestations (NMM) were more recognized and considered to be significant. The importance of NMM is that they reflect the more diffuse pathology of PD and may represent an opportunity of earlier diagnosis and treatment. Here in this cross-sectional study, we try to estimate the frequency of such manifestations in PD patients in the country. Using slightly modified PD non-motor (28 of 30 responses) questionnaire (NMS Quest), we studied the incidence of NMM in 100 PD patients attending one major teaching hospital and compared their occurrence in 130 age- and gender-matched non-PD controls. Results Out of 100 PD patients (40% females) mean age 67.4 ± 12 with disease duration of 7.3 ± 5.8, range < 1–33.2 years), and 130 control subjects (48.5% females), mean age 65.0 ± 7.0. PD patients had 8.6 ± 5.3 NMM while controls had 3.4 ± 3.3 NMM, respectively (p < 0.00001 t test). Constipation, urgency, insomnia, sad feeling, panic, light headedness and recent memory impairment were the most prevalent NMM in PD compared to controls, while nocturia, restless legs, encopresis and falling were not different in the two groups. The number of NMM ranged from 0 to 21 in PD patients with 50% having ≥ 8 manifestations. The number of NMM did not correlate with age, gender, or disease duration as defined by the classical motor symptoms. Frequency of 23 of these 28 manifestations differed significantly in PD patients compared to controls. Conclusions This study confirms that NMM in Jordanian PD patients are very common as reported in other populations. This signifies the universal prevalence of such NMM reflecting their important impact on their daily life and their relevant contribution to better understanding of this disease.