A comprehensive model of health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND
Insight in how impairments and disabilities related to Parkinson's disease (PD) influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is required to review adequacy of current management strategies.


METHODS
The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease (SCOPA) evaluation was used to assess impairments and disabilities. HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol-5D Visual Analogue Scale. 378 patients with PD who participated in the SCOPA/PROPARK cohort were assessed while on their usual treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis and structural equation modelling were used to construct a model of factors that influence HRQoL.


RESULTS
A model with good fit was constructed that identified various impairments and disabilities as important contributors to HRQoL in PD. Of the disabilities, psychosocial well-being had a larger impact on HRQoL than physical functioning. Of the impairments, depression had the largest contribution to HRQoL, followed by axial motor symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and urinary symptoms. In addition, pain, psychiatric and motor complications, and daytime sleepiness had small but significant influences on HRQoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple factors, including disabilities, nonmotor symptoms and axial motor symptoms, affect HRQoL in patients with PD. In patients who are on symptomatic treatment aiming to alleviate mainly motor symptoms, there is a large impact on HRQoL of nonmotor and nondopaminergic symptoms. Research is warranted to develop and evaluate management strategies for the aspects that currently impact on HRQoL as psychosocial well-being, depressive symptoms, axial motor symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and urinary symptoms. These findings call for a multidisciplinary approach in the care of these features.
Visser
M
M
Department of Neurology, K5 Q 92, Leiden University Medical Center, 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. m.visser@lumc.nl
van Rooden
S M
SM
Verbaan
D
D
Marinus
J
J
Stiggelbout
A M
AM
van Hilten
J J
JJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010146:Pain; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires