Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its correlation with sleep disorders.

Background: PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide after Alzheimer’s disease, with its prevalence and incidence increasing annually on a global scale. The etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of PD exhibit significant heterogeneity. Clinically, PD is characterized not only by motor symptoms but also by a wide range of non-motor symptoms. Among these, depression is one of the most common and prominent non-motor symptoms of PD, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Previous studies have shown that sleep disorders are highly prevalent among PD patients and may exacerbate depression. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of depression in PD patients and explore its association with sleep disorders.

Method:  A total of 144 PD patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between February 2021 and March 2024 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Motor symptoms were assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III). Non-motor symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Cross-sectional data analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0.

Results: The incidence of depression among the 144 PD patients was 61.1% (88/144). PD patients with depression had a longer disease duration, an earlier age of onset, and a higher levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD). They also had higher UPDRS-III, ESS, FSS, and PSQI scores. Multivariate analysis indicated that PSQI and UPDRS-III were risk factors for depression in PD. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between HAMD and PSQI scores (r = 0.556, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Sleep disorders and worsening motor symptoms are significant risk factors for depression in PD, and a decline in sleep quality is strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/association-between-depression-and-sleep-disorders-in-parkinsons-disease/