The study of health-related quality of life using PDQ39 in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with advanced therapies

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a neurological chronic degenerative disorder which can lead to a progressive loss of quality of life and to incapacitation. Conventional treatment is effective in the first years of the disease, but other kinds of therapy should be considered upon the onset of motor and non-motor complications that are clearly impacting quality of life. At present we have three advanced therapies which have proven beneficial for these types of patients, namely: deep cerebral stimulation, subcutaneous apomorphine infusion pumps, and continuous intestinal levodopa infusion to the duodenum (Duodopa®). ObjectivesTo assess the impact of advanced therapies on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease, measured using the PDQ39 scale. MethodsObservational, prospective, non-randomized study. Three measurements (n=20) using the PDQ39 scale were taken: the first before initiating advanced therapy, the second at 3–5 months, and the third at 6–10 months. ResultsMen who receive treatment with advanced therapies are younger and have fewer years of progression of the disease than women. There were significant differences between the three measurements in terms of emotional well-being, stigmatisation, cognitive state and overall assessment of PDQ39. Similarly, significant differences were found in pairs in the long term in these parameters. Social support deteriorated after entering advanced therapy. ConclusionsSignificant global improvements were observed in quality of life, measured using the PDQ39 scale, of patients with Parkinson's disease, treated with advanced therapy in the Hospital of Navarre for 10 months.