Objective: The negative impact of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is rising as the global population ages and fractures with PD are additional health burdens. In rural India, the increasing aging population faces multiple challenges due to changes in social structure and inaccessible healthcare facilities. This study is to evaluate the impact of PD -related fractures on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older persons in rural India.
Background: PD is triggering additional health burdens among elderly people in society, particularly in developing countries.
Method: Data were obtained from the record of the Odisha state health department, and a cross sectional
Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) survey of older persons of 60 years and above with PD was done in selected villages. The PRO measures included the European Quality of Life 5 Domains (EQ-5D) and PD Assessment Questionnaire short-version (PDPAQ-SV). Associations between PRO scores and available social support, accessibility to public health centers, and the site of fractures were also evaluated using ANOVA.
Results: Of the total 937 patients with PD, 551 (58.1%) completed the survey, and data for the number of fractures were available for 423/551 (76.7%) patients. Although, having fractures significantly influenced scores on all PRO measures (p<.0001), leg, hip, and spine fractures had linked with the greatest PRO scores reduction. The number of members in the family, accessibility to public health specialists, fracture sites, number of fractures, age, premedical conditions, and obesity were significantly associated with PRO measures (p<.05) in the multivariate analyses.
Conclusion: In patients with PD, all types of fractures are associated with lower HRQoL and lower overall health status. Support from family members and access to the public health system significantly influence HRQoL in individuals with PD. In the rural area, adequate social support systems and primary care providing essential services must be addressed to improve the HRQoL of older persons with PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
S. Kuanar, C. Mahapatra. A cross regional investigation into the effects of fractures on the quality of life for elderly people with Parkinson’s disease in rural India [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-cross-regional-investigation-into-the-effects-of-fractures-on-the-quality-of-life-for-elderly-people-with-parkinsons-disease-in-rural-india/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-cross-regional-investigation-into-the-effects-of-fractures-on-the-quality-of-life-for-elderly-people-with-parkinsons-disease-in-rural-india/