Impact of changes in balance and walking capacity on the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms that cause the decline of functional capacity and affect the quality of life (QoL).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of changes in balance and walking capacity on the PD.


METHODS
The instruments used were: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HY), Schwab and England scale (SE), quality of life questionnaire (PDQ-39), Berg balance Scale (BBS) and six-minute walk test (6MWT).


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients with mean disease duration of 7.3 years were assessed. Lower scores on the BBS and shorter distances walked during the 6MWT correlated with a poorer perception of QoL. This correlation occurred at the expense of the mobility and daily living activities domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that the impairment in balance while performing functional activities and the reduction in walking capacity are important factors that negatively affect the perception of QoL in PD patients.
Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Paula Luciana
PL
Scalzo
Carolina Reis
CR
Flores
Juliana Rúbia
JR
Marques
Simone Cristina de Oliveira
SC
Robini
Antônio Lúcio
AL
Teixeira
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*