title: Deep Brain Stimulation Can Preserve Working Status in Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Objectives. Our investigation aimed at evaluating if bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) could preserve working capability in Parkinson's disease (PD). Materials. We reviewed the data of 40 young (<60 year-old) PD patients who underwent DBS implantation and had at least 2 years of follow-up. Patients were categorized based on their working capability at time of surgery: "active job" group (n = 20) and "no job" group (n = 20). Baseline characteristics were comparable. Quality of life (EQ-5D) and presence of active job were evaluated preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Results. Although similar (approximately 50%) improvement was achieved in the severity of motor and major nonmotor symptoms in both groups, the postoperative quality of life was significantly better in the "active job" group (0.687 versus 0.587, medians, p < 0.05). Majority (80%) of "active job" group members were able to preserve their job 2 years after the operation. However, only a minimal portion (5%) of the "no job" group members was able to return to the world of active employees (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Although our study has several limitations, our results suggest that in patients with active job the appropriately "early" usage of DBS might help preserve working capability and gain higher improvement in quality of life.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Deli
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Balás
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary ; MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Dóczi
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary ; MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: József
authors: J
authors: Janszky
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Kázmér
authors: K
authors: Karádi
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Zsuzsanna
authors: Z
authors: Aschermann
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary ; Department of Neurology, Kaposi Mór County Hospital, Tallián Gyula Utca 16, Kaposvár 7400, Hungary.
authors: Ferenc
authors: F
authors: Nagy
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Makkos
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Márton
authors: M
authors: Kovács
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Bosnyák
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary ; MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Kovács
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Pécs, Rét Utca 2, Pécs 7623, Hungary.
authors: Sámuel
authors: S
authors: Komoly