Risk Factors of Non-motor Symptoms in Different Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and non-motor symptoms can affect the treatment nature of PD. Aims: To investigate the clinical features and NMSs at different Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages among patients with PD, and the risk factors of common NMSs. Methods: We collected the clinical characteristics of 193 PD patients and used binary logistic regression analysis to evaluate the risk factors of NMSs among three groups based on H&Y stage. Results: The results showed that 87.05% of PD patients had more than one NMS. Clinical features varied across three groups including disease duration, right upper limb onset, motor subtypes, antiparkinson drugs administration and Levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD). Autonomic disorders were the most common NMSs in which the prevalence of constipation was the highest. For risk factors of NMSs, antiparkinson drugs were dominant. Longer disease duration was a risk factor for pain and urinary dysfunction at early stage, respectively. Gender and LEDD by disease duration might be associated with depression and orthostatic hypotension at intermediate stage, respectively. Conclusions: Pain and constipation were the most common NMSs in PD patients. Chinese PD patients often turn to Chinese Medicine, especially acupuncture, to treat NMSs such as pain. Our study will help clinicians to accurately judge the possibility of PD patients developing certain NMSs and their risk factors at different H&Y stage, and to guide medication regimen to a certain extent, so as to better manage patients.