The Impact of Treatment-related Dyskinesias and Non-motor Symptoms on the Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

The impact of levodopa-induced motor complications and non-motor symptoms (NMS) on quality of life (QoL) remains unclear in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We investigated determinants of QoL in 98 Chinese PD patients in Hong Kong, with focus on the impact of motor complications and NMS including autonomic dysfunctions, sleep disorders and mental status alterations. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the 39-item Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire was best predicted by the Unied PD Rating Scale IVa (dyskinesias), followed by the Hoehn and Yahr stage (H&Y) for motor severity and NMS. Among these, the UPDRS IVa predicted sub-scores for bodily discomfort, communication, emotional well-being and mobility. The H&Y predicted mobility,1 activities of daily living and emotional well-being. NMS compromised emotional well-being and cognition and 1 †The two first authors have contributed equally to the work. caused bodily discomfort. We conclude that, apart from motor severity, treatment-related dyskinesias and NMS exert a detrimental effect on QoL. As such, dyskinesias and NMS should be taken into consideration during the management of PD.