The Effects of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Parkinson’s Disease Patients in Italy: Results of a Structured Survey

Abstract

COVID-19 was first identified in China in late 2019 and spread globally, originating a pandemic. To limit the spreading of the virus, many countries, including Italy, introduced social distancing measures and limited human movement. The Italian government declared a lockdown of the whole country lasting about two months, and the introduced restrictive rules heavily impacted patients with chronic neurological diseases because of the reduced access to healthcare and community support services. In Parkinson’s disease, studies confirmed lockdown restrictions increase levels of psychological distress, impose limitations on physical activities, and cause a lack of clinical assistance. This study aims at investigating the impact of the pandemic during and beyond the lockdown period in such patients using an online survey. A total of 387 total patients accessed the survey and were asked about their personal experiences during and after lockdown. The results show a significant impact on people’s lives even months after lockdown restrictions were lifted, with a substantial and durable worsening in different aspects of daily life, heavily influenced by impaired access to health services—particularly physical therapies, including personal physical activity—and readily available clinical counselling, with an overall observation of worsening symptoms control. These aspects should be carefully considered in the assessment of global health care strategies to overcome the current pandemic and its broader effects.

Long‐Lasting Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Their Relatives

“…Although social and group activities were resumed, disruptions of medical care continued during times of loosened restrictions. Cross‐sectional studies from the United States, 2 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 12 Europe, 3 , 5 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 and other global regions 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 have demonstrated pronounced worsening of motor and non‐motor symptoms. The number of affected PwP increased over the development of the pandemic: reports ranged from no worsening 26 to over 69% 20 , 21 , 29 during the first global COVID‐19 wave (March 2020–May 2020) to 60% to 83% 3 , 10 , 14 in later stages of the pandemic.…”