Objective: The study aims to assess the prevalence and characteristics of NMF in PD patients in Indian settings and explore their correlation with disease severity, treatment duration and Quality of Life

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Non-motor fluctuations (NMF) significantly impact patients’ quality of life but remain under-diagnosed and under-studied, especially in Indian settings. This study aims to assess the prevalence and characteristics of NMF in PD patients in Indian settings and explore their correlation with disease severity, treatment duration and quality of Life.

Method: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 50 PD patients. Data on demographic variables, disease duration, levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD), and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage were collected. The prevalence of various non-motor symptoms, including depression, anxiety, apathy, cognition, sleep disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction, was assessed. Pearson correlation was employed to explore associations between NMF and clinical parameters.

Results: The mean age of participants was 69.12 ± 7.1 years, with a male predominance (68%, n = 34). The majority (60%, n = 30) were between 50-70 years old, and 28% (n = 14) had a disease duration of more than five years. The most prevalent non-motor symptoms included sleep disturbances (76%, n = 38), gastrointestinal issues (76%, n = 38), pain (64%, n = 32), and apathy (64%, n = 32). Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between disease duration, NMF severity (p < 0.05) and Quality of Life (QOL)(PDQ8). Higher LEDD doses were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of NMF, particularly mood-related symptoms and cognitive impairment (r = 0.389, p = 0.021). Higher NMF scores were associated with poor QOL.

Conclusion: Non-motor fluctuations are highly prevalent in PD patients and correlate with disease progression, treatment duration and QOL. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive assessment and management of NMF in clinical practice to improve overall well-being of individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

« Back to 2025 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/non-motor-fluctuations-in-parkinsons-disease-a-cross-sectional-study-on-prevalence-correlates-and-impact-on-quality-of-life/