Life with Parkinson's Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Pressure Is "OFF"

J Parkinsons Dis. 2021;11(2):491-495. doi: 10.3233/JPD-202342.

Abstract

People with Parkinson's disease (PwP) have been suggested to be more vulnerable to negative psychological and psycho-social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in PwP. A Danish/Swedish cohort of 67 PwP was analysed. Health-related quality of life (HRQL), depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep and motor symptom-scores were included in the analysis. Additionally, the Danish participants provided free-text descriptions of life during the pandemic. Overall, the participants reported significantly better HRQL during the COVID-19 period compared with before. Reduced social pressure may be part of the explanation. Despite worsened anxiety, night sleep improved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / psychology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Sweden / epidemiology