Non-motor symptoms related to quality of life and dependency in Parkinson patients at San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital: Differences between men and women

Introduction In Spain there are around 300,000 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It is a neurodegenerative process characterized by progressive neuronal destruction with decrease in dopaminergic levels. Objectives To know the non-motor symptoms (NMS) and their relation with the quality of life (QoL) and dependence in people who come to the Neurology consultation of the Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, observing differences between men and women. Methodology Observational and transversal study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. We analyze data on NMS, QoL and dependence through different assessment instruments. Results 33 patients, 60.6% men. Mean age 73.97 (±9.52) years, age of onset 67.97 (±10.67). Total mean score of the NMS 73.52 (±42.49), QoL 25.70 (±17.85) and dependence 70.73 (±10.94), depression 48.5%. The NMS associated with the QoL of the patients (r = 0.80) and with the level of dependence (r = 0.59). Depression is not related to QoL (p = 0.137) or dependence (p = 0.319). Mean SNM in women 91.38 (±46.59) and in men 61.90 (±36.18), (p = 0.050). A significant difference (p = 0.003) was also found in the QoL of women 36.59 (±20.11) vs men 18,62 (±12.13). The dependence, however, no differences were found between men and women (p = 0.175). Conclusion NMS have a major impact in the quality of life and dependency people who suffer from Parkinson´s disease. women have the highest dependency and worse QoL.