Factors affecting health-related quality of life amongst Asian patients with Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study was carried out to identify factors predicting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst Asian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
A total of 183 PD patients (mean age: 61 years, male: 68.9%) attending a tertiary neuroscience clinic in Singapore completed the English or Chinese version of the 8-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Patients' socio-demographic characteristics and their clinical variables were analysed to identify factors influencing the PDQ-8 Summary Index and responses to its eight dimensions.


RESULTS
In the multiple linear regression model, the use of Chinese survey, higher motor score and longer duration of PD were associated with poorer overall HRQoL. The multiple logistic regression analyses showed that female patients and patients with higher Hoehn and Yahr stage were more probably to report worse emotional well-being; patients who completed Chinese survey reported more problems with mobility, cognition and stigma; patients with higher motor scores were more probably to report problems with activities of daily living; patients with longer duration of PD were more probably to report problems with mobility, social support, communication and stigma.


CONCLUSIONS
Both socio-demographic factors and disease-specific variables influence HRQoL in PD patients; the effects of culture-related factors on HRQoL should not be overlooked when assessing HRQoL in multi-cultural settings.
Zhao
Y J
YJ
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Tan
L C S
LC
Lau
P N
PN
Au
W L
WL
Li
S C
SC
Luo
N
N
D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires