Quality of life in elderly patients with cerebral vascular disease and Parkinson's disease

Abstract

We developed a questionnaire for the study of background factors and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with cerebral vascular disease (CVD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The questionnaire covered the background factors and four sections such as physical, functional, psychological and social health sections. Each section had 15 questions and disease-specific questions for CVD or PD were included in the physical health section. We analyzed 107 patients with CVD (76 elderly patients, aged 65 or more, 31 non-elderly patients under 65) and 136 patients with PD (91 elderly, 45 non-elderly). In the background section, of a total of 243 patients with CVD and PD, the elderly patients needed the assistance of their spouse and their sons wives more frequently than non-elderly patients. With regard to rehabilitation, non-elderly CVD patients had rehabilitation more frequently than the elderly CVD patients, while a higher percentage of elderly patients with PD had rehabilitation training more frequently than the non-elderly PD patients. In the QOL section, there was no difference between elderly and non-elderly CVD patients, while elderly PD patients were statistically more significantly disabled physically and weak-minded psychologically. The physical disabilities of the elderly PD patients in this statistical investigation included slow motion, stooped posture, frozen gait, difficulty in turning and standing up, constipation and dysuria. The psychological problems of elder PD patients included forgetfulness and a feeling of aging. These patients had significantly fewer consultations by family and relatives than the non-elderly PD patients. The overall tendency of QOL in patients with CVD and PD was similar to that of PD patients.