Associations between Constipation and Use of Levodopa with Nutritional Status, Polypharmacy, and Stage of Parkinson's...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a highly prevalent disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms; the latter include constipation, which is considered a prodromal symptom. On the other hand, sarcopenia, polypharmacy, and malnutrition due to deficits are common in PD and lead to poorer health and quality of life.

to associate constipation and use of levodopa with nutritional status, sarcopenia, duration and stage of the disease, and polypharmacy in individuals with PD.

analytical cross-sectional observational study where an online survey was applied to 161 people suffering from PD.

a significant association is observed between constipation and BMI (p = 0.022), as well as between the use of levodopa with BMI (p = 0.049) and polypharmacy (p = 0.046). On the other hand, there is a relationship between the average time of PD diagnosis and constipation (p = 0.0047). Finally, there is a relationship between SARC-F score applied to those over 60 years of age (p = 0.0446) and the use of levodopa. Having sarcopenia, being overweight, and having had the disease for less than five years is associated with a higher probability of experiencing constipation, according to the logistic regression analysis (p > 0.005).

nutritional assessment and subsequent follow-up is of vital importance to avoid complications that could be associated with levodopa use, constipation, and sarcopenia.