Exploring the Manifestation of Non-motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease in a Tertiary Care Center: A Comprehensive...

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can influence cognition, emotion, sleep, and autonomic systems. NMS frequently precede motor symptoms, underscoring the necessity for a thorough comprehension of these symptoms, especially in heterogeneous populations like India. This study aims to explore the NMS of PD in a cohort from eastern India.

Sixty consecutive patients with PD were enrolled in this study after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained from each patient after ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee. Data were collected by using the standardized Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Symptoms Rating Scale (MDS-NMS) to assess various NMS. Additionally, the study categorized patients into clinical subtypes based on their predominant symptoms and it analyzed how NMS manifested in each subtype. The correlation between NMS was also assessed.

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues were the most common NMS, affecting all 60 (100%) patients. Depression affected 59 (98.33%) patients, followed by anxiety in 57 (95%) patients. Only two (3.33%) patients reported sexual dysfunction, while 55 (91.67%) patients reported pain, and 54 (90%) patients reported cognitive impairment. Constipation was more common among symptoms of the GI domain. Twenty-seven (45%) patients had developed at least one NMS prior to the diagnosis of PD. Younger patients (<60 years) tend to experience more severe emotional symptoms like depression and anxiety. Older patients (60-80 years) showed increasing severity of physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, and GI issues, along with cognitive decline. No statistically significant differences were observed for NMS severity between the akinetic-rigid versus tremor-predominant subtypes of PD.

The findings emphasize that NMS are prevalent in nearly all PD patients. Addressing NMS in clinical practice is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Particularly in India, where these symptoms may be underdiagnosed, the study highlights the need for routine screening and management of NMS to enhance overall care strategies for PD patients.