Autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a comprehensive symptom survey.
BACKGROUND
Autonomic dysfunction occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD), but few studies have addressed it in a comprehensive manner.


METHODS
Autonomic symptoms were evaluated by a questionnaire in sixty-eight subjects (44 patients and 24 controls).


RESULTS
PD patients experienced higher frequency and severity of autonomic dysfunction. When all autonomic symptoms were pooled into an aggregate score, differences between patients and controls were highly statistically significant (p<0.0001). 'Increased salivation', 'frequency of dysphagia', decreased 'BM (bowel movement) frequency', i.e. constipation, and 'orthostatic dizziness' were more frequent in PD patients (p<0.05). A prediction model to determine the predictors of autonomic dysfunction was unsuccessful.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in the prevalence of autonomic symptoms in PD and non-parkinsonian controls are apparent from this study.
Siddiqui
M F
MF
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Rast
S
S
Lynn
M J
MJ
Auchus
A P
AP
Pfeiffer
R F
RF
D000368:Aged; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index