Respiratory dysfunction has been associated with Parkinson's disease since it was first described in 1817. The respiratory symptoms observed in Parkinson's disease patients vary greatly. Most patients remain asymptomatic, whereas others present with acute shortness of breath and even stridor.In August 2016, an electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Results were screened and studies reporting on respiratory dysfunction associated with Parkinson's disease were included.Respiratory dysfunction is due to a combination of factors including restrictive changes, upper airway obstruction, abnormal ventilatory drive and response to medications.Much debate surrounds the mechanism underlying respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, its prevalence and the effect of levodopa on respiration. It is clear from this review that larger studies, comparing patients of similar disease duration and severity using the same pulmonary function parameters, are required to provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease and frailty are both common conditions affecting older people. Little is known regarding the association of the Clinical Frailty Scale with hospital outcomes in idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients admitted to the acute hospital. We aimed to test whether frailty status was an independent predictor of short-term mortality and other hospital outcomes in older inpatients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.Method We conducted an observational retrospective study in a large tertiary university hospital between October 2014 and October 2016. Routinely measured patient characteristics included demographics (age and sex), Clinical Frailty Scale, acute illness severity (Emergency Department Modi ed Early Warning Score), the Charlson Comorbidity Index, discharge specialty, history of dementia, history of depression and the presence of a new cognitive impairment. Outcomes studied were inpatient mortality, death within 30 days of discharge, new institutionalisation, length of stay ≥ 7 days and readmission within 30 days to the same hospital.Results There were 393 rst admission episodes of idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients aged 75 years or more; 166 (42.2%) were female. The mean age (standard deviation) was 82.8 (5.0) years. The mean Clinical Frailty Scale was 5.9 (1.4) and the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 1.3 (1.5). After adjustment for covariates, frailty and acute illness severity were independent predictors of inpatient mortality; odds ratio for severely/very severely frail or terminally ill = 8.1, 95% con dence interval 1.0-63.5, p = 0.045 and odds ratio for acute illness severity: 1.3, 95% con dence interval 1.1-1.6, p = 0.005). The Clinical Frailty Scale did not signi cantly predict other hospital outcomes.Conclusions The Clinical Frailty Scale was a signi cant predictor of inpatient mortality in idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients admitted to the acute hospital and it may be useful as a marker of risk in this vulnerable population.

Background:Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly involving the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints. Although the exact aetiology remains largely unknown, there is thought to be an immune-driven element. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases and is thought to play an important role in modulating the immune system. Low vitamin D levels may contribute to the development and progression of axSpA1.Objectives:To study the possible associations between low vitamin D and disease activity in axSpA.Methods:A systematic literature search using Medline, Embase and Cochrane was performed using MESH search terms “ankylosing spondylitis”, “axial spondyloarthropathy” and “vitamin D”. Articles examining disease activity measured by BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, ESR and CRP identified through title/abstract screening, were included in the study, with relevant information extracted.Results:Out of 495 articles identified from the initial search, 19 observational studies which were mostly (89%) cross-sectional studies were identified. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies, including in the definition of vitamin D deficiency, latitude where study took place and seasonal variation. Vitamin D levels were often lower in patients with axSpA compared to controls. Seventeen studies found no association with vitamin D deficiency and disease activity. The exceptions included one study which measured serum vitamin D receptor levels as opposed to serum 25 (OH) D or 1,25 (OH)2 D concentrations, and another study whose recruitment occurred over four years and therefore seasonal variation may conflict results. Patients taking NSAIDs or anti-TNF had no difference in vitamin D levels.Conclusion:Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in axSpA but does not seem to associate with increased disease activity. Longitudinal studies are required to better define these links.References:[1]Sizheng Z, et al. Systematic review of association between vitamin D levels and susceptibility and disease activity of ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatology 2014; 53:1595-1603.Disclosure of Interests:None declared