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Effect of Exercise and Rehabilitation Therapy on Risk of Hospitalization in Parkinson's Disease
George T Kannarkat1, Miriam R Rafferty2,3, Sheng Luo4
1Department of Neurology The Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore Maryland USA.
Background:
Exercise and physical therapy (PT) can improve motor function and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), but their role in hospitalization avoidance is not well-studied.
Objectives:
To determine the longitudinal and temporal association of exercise and PT use with hospital encounter.
Methods:
Longitudinal regression and χ2 analyses were performed on Parkinson's Foundation Parkinson's Outcome Project exercise and PT use data from 4674 and 9259 persons with PD, respectively.
Results:
Greater exercise duration and intensity were associated with reduced odds of hospital encounter, whereas both PT and occupational therapy use were associated with increased odds. In the 2 years before a hospital encounter, there was an increased frequency of PT use, but not reductions in exercise.
Conclusions:
Consistent exercise may reduce hospitalization risk whereas PT referral may identify at-risk individuals without preventing this outcome. Further work to incentivize consistent exercise in PD may reduce healthcare use.
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