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Parkinson's disease symptoms: the patient's perspective
Marios Politis1, Kit Wu, Sophie Molloy
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. marios.politis@imperial.ac.uk
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patient concerns shift from motor symptoms like slowness and tremor in early stages to medication response and non-motor issues in advanced PD. Understanding patient-perceived symptoms is crucial for effective Parkinson's disease management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) presents diverse motor and non-motor symptoms impacting patients differently.
- Discrepancies between patient-reported and clinician-observed symptoms can impede effective PD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient perceptions of the most troublesome Parkinson's disease symptoms.
- To compare symptom burden in early versus advanced stages of Parkinson's disease.
Main Methods:
- A survey assessed 265 Parkinson's disease patients, asking them to rank their top three most bothersome symptoms.
- Patients were categorized into early (<6 years) and late (>=6 years) disease groups.
Main Results:
- Early PD: slowness, tremor, stiffness, pain, and loss of smell/taste were most prevalent.
- Advanced PD: medication response fluctuations (wearing-off, dyskinesia), mood changes, drooling, and sleep issues became primary concerns.
- Tremor remained a significant concern across both stages.
Conclusions:
- Patient-perceived troublesome symptoms evolve significantly as Parkinson's disease progresses.
- Advanced PD is characterized by challenges with medication efficacy and non-motor symptoms.
- Patient-centered assessment and management are vital for addressing the evolving needs of Parkinson's disease patients.
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