Objective: This study aims to determine gender differences in the quality of life of Parkinson’s disease (PD) among Hispanic individuals.
Background: PD profoundly affects various facets of individuals’ lives. Gaining insights into gender variations within these domains is crucial for tailoring targeted interventions. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the experiences of Hispanic individuals with PD, specifically about gender disparities, have been relatively underexplored in existing research, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive understanding of this population.
Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 66 Hispanic PD patients who provided informed consent and completed the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) to assess quality of life. T-student tests were employed to scrutinize the associations between gender and PDQ-39 scores, including its components such as mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, communication, and bodily discomfort.
Results: The participants, comprising 62% men (41) and 38% women (25), exhibited average ages of 69±8 and 65±9, respectively. Significant differences were observed in emotional well-being between male and female PD patients (t = 2.806, p = 0.007), indicating that males exhibit significantly lower emotional well-being compared to females. However, no substantial gender disparities were found in overall quality of life or the other assessed components.
Conclusion: The study highlights a noteworthy gender disparity in emotional well-being among Hispanic PD patients, with females reporting higher scores. Nevertheless, no significant differences were observed in other domains. These findings underscore the importance of considering gender-specific needs when formulating interventions to enhance the well-being of PD patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
D. Bustamante-Mieles, C. Rodriguez-Alarcon, D. Piana-Castillo, G. Faggioni-Sanchez, C. Cevallos-Velasco, M. Barreiro-Guillén, R. Santibanez-Vasquez. Gender Disparities in Quality of Life Domains Among Hispanic Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparative Analysis [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2024; 39 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gender-disparities-in-quality-of-life-domains-among-hispanic-individuals-with-parkinsons-disease-a-comparative-analysis/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2024 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gender-disparities-in-quality-of-life-domains-among-hispanic-individuals-with-parkinsons-disease-a-comparative-analysis/