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Dyspnea, the silent threat in Parkinson's: a mixed methods study
Aseel Aburub1, Mohammad Z Darabseh2, Zaina E Abu-Khdair3
1Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan. aburubaseel@gmail.com.
BMC Neurology
|July 2, 2024
Summary
Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is common in early Parkinson's disease and impacts daily life quality. Pulmonary rehabilitation awareness is low among patients, suggesting a need for better management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Quality of Life Studies
Background:
- Dyspnea is an underrecognized symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) impacting patient quality of life.
- Limited research exists on the lived experiences of PD patients with dyspnea during daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the daily life experiences of independently mobile individuals with Parkinson's disease who suffer from dyspnea.
- To assess the impact of dyspnea on quality of life in early-stage PD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional mixed-methods study utilizing online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
- Inclusion criteria: Diagnosed with PD, Hoehn and Yahr Score I-III, independent mobility, Arabic speakers.
- Exclusion criteria: Other major comorbidities, smoking history, prior respiratory hospitalization.
Main Results:
- All 117 participants reported dyspnea, negatively affecting their quality of life, particularly during daily activities.
- A significant lack of awareness regarding pulmonary rehabilitation, its availability, and benefits was observed.
- Dyspnea was prevalent even in early stages (Hoehn and Yahr I-III) of Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions:
- Dyspnea is a significant issue for early-stage Parkinson's patients, affecting their quality of life.
- Routine lung function assessment and dyspnea management are recommended.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation programs may offer substantial benefits to PD patients experiencing dyspnea.
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