Objective: This prospective study investigated the clinical factors associated with the hospitalization of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Patients with PD have higher hospitalization rates than the general elderly population. However, few previous studies have examined the factors associated with the hospitalization of patients with PD.

Method: Patients with Hoehn and Yahr stage ≤ III were enrolled and followed for three years. The baseline assessments included age, sex, disease duration, levodopa equivalent daily dose, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) parts I–IV, cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment), swallowing function (Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire), history of falls, quality of life (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire, 8-item), presence of sarcopenia, and biological markers (serum total protein, albumin, and anemia). Hospitalization during the 3-year follow-up period was also analyzed.

Results: This study included 112 patients with PD (63 men and 49 women). Their mean age ± SD was 70 ± 9 years and the mean disease duration was 7 ± 6 years. Overall, 73 patients completed the follow-up. During follow-up, 36% of the patients required hospitalization and 3% died. The hospitalized patients were significantly older and had longer disease durations, more frequent falls, greater sarcopenia prevalences, and higher MDS-UPDRS Part III scores. A multivariate analysis identified disease duration and a history of falls as the strongest predictors of hospitalization.

Conclusion: The 3-year hospitalization rate for patients with PD was 36%. Fall evaluations of patients with a longer disease durations may significantly reduce their hospitalization rates.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-factors-associated-with-the-hospitalization-of-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-3-year-prospective-study/